THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/lifeofelderbenjaOObuzz_0 


THE  •  W'^^M 


LIFE 


O-F 


ELDER  BENJAMIN  RANDAL 


TRIXCIPALLY  TAKEX  FROM 


DOCUMENTS  WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF. 


BY  JOHN1  C 


4<  Being  dead,  yet  speaketh."  Hcb.  xi.  4. 


I 


DISTRICT  OF  MAINE,  ss. 
Be  it  Remembered,  That  on  this  nineteenth  day  of 
June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  twenty-seven,  and  the  fifty-first  year  of  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States  of  America*  Mr.  John  Buzzell  of  the 
District  of  Maine,  has  deposited  in  this  Office,  the  title  of  a 
Book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  Author,  in  the  words 
following,  viz : 

"  The  Life  of  Elder  Benjamin  Randal.  Principally  taken 
"  from  Documents  written  by  himself.  By  John  Buzzell,  M.  G. 
"  4  Being  dead,  yet  speaketh.'  Heb.  xi.  4.  Limerick  :  pub- 
"  lished  by  Hobbs,  Woodman  &  Co.  1827." 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  entitled,  '*  An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning, 
by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the 
authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  there- 
in mentioned  ;"  and  also,  to  an  act,  entitled,"  An  Act  sup- 
plementary to  an  act,  entitled,  an  act  for  the  encouragement 
of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books, 
to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times 
therein  mentioned,  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the 
arts  of  designing,  engraving,  and  etching  historical  and  other 
prints." 

J.  MUSSEY,  Cterk  of  the  District  Court  of  Maine. 
A  true  copy  as  of  record — Attest, 
J.  MUSSEY,  Clerk  B,  C.  Maine. 


To  the  header. ...In  compliance  with  the  solicitations  of 
many  of  my  brethren  in  the  ministry,  the  frequent  and  repeated 
importunities  of  the  peculiar  friends  of  Eld.  Randal,  as  well  as 
with  a  view  of  paying,  in  a  small  measure,  the  debt  of  love 
which  I  owe  to  the  memory  of  the  man,  who,  in  the  hand  of 
God,  was  made  instrumental  of  the  salvation  of  my  soul ;  I 
have,  though  with  much  diffidence  in  my  own  abilities,  at- 
tempted the  following  work. 

My  principal  view  in  publishing  it  is,  that  the  following 
memoir  may  be  preserved  in  the  church,  and  prove  an  ever- 
lasting blessing  to  the  Connexion.  That  all  the  ministers  and 
members  belonging  to  it  may  be  favored  with  a  concise  and 
correct  account  of  its  founder,  and  have  on  hand  a  few  im- 
portant sketches  of  his  very  useful  and  profitable  life,  and  be 
excited  thereby  to  imitate  him  in  grace,  in  love  to  God  and 
man,  in  zeal  for  the  promotion  of  pure  religion  in  the  world, 
and  in  labors  for  the  spreading  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and 
building  up  of  Immanuel's  Kingdom  among  men.  Finally, 
that  thousands  vet  unborn,  into  whose  hands  this  work  may 
fall,  may  read,  and  by  his  example  be  influenced  to  embrace  a 
free  salvatiox,  and  receive  Christ  as  their  only  Savior, 
and  take  his  word  as  their  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

I  have,  therefore,  taken  the  utmost  pains  to  select  and  set 
in  order  those  things,  which,  in  the  course  of  his  public  life, 
appear  to  me  to  be  the  most  interesting  to  posterity  ;  while  r 
have  passed  over  a  multitude  of  occurrences,  which  concerned 
his  temporal  business  and  domestic  affairs,  lest  I  should  swell 
the  volume  to  too  great  a  size. 

In  penning  the  following  pages,  I  have  had  special  recourse 
to  documents  written  by  Eld.  Randal  himself,  and  have  made 
copious  extracts  from  his  writings,  with  as  little  alteration  as 
possible,  so  as  to  render  the  sense  plain,  and  the  phraseology 
consistent. 

It  will,  doubtless,  be  recollected  by  many,  who  were  ac- 
quainted with  the  circumstance,  that  at  the  time  of  the  Eider's 
funeral  seven  years  of  his  Journal,, about  the  middle  of  his 


PREFACE. 


public  life,  by  some  means  or  other,  were  not  to  be  found,  ana 
has  never  since  come  to  hand  ;  but  as  God  in  his  providence 
overruled  it,  it  so  happened  that  I  commenced  travelling  with 
him  about  the  beginning  of  the  time  where  the  Journal  was 
lost,  and  continued  to  travel  with  him  on  about  all  his  lengthy 
journies,  during  the  seven  years  above  mentioned  ;  and  was  an 
eye  witness  of  the  principal  events  which  took  place  in  the 
course  of  that  time  ;  and  from  my  own  knowledge,  and  by 
special  reference  to  the  quarterly  and  yearly  meeting  records, 
kept  by  him,  I  have  been  enabled  to  fill  up  the  vacuum,  in  a 
concise  manner,  and  unite  the  whole  together. 

I  have,  in  a  few  instances,  inserted  some  interesting  events, 
which  I  received  from  his  own  mouth,  and  the  mouths  of  oth- 
ers, who  were  witnesses  of  the  scenes.  In  these  cases,  the 
circumstances  are  related  according  to  my  best  recollection. 

I  have  written  the  whole  in  a  state  of  bodily  affiiction,  and 
have  endeavored  to  perform  it  with  a  single  eye  to  the  glory 
of  God,  and  with  a  desire  for  the  promotion  of  his  cause  in 
the  world.  Should  any  error  be  discovered  in  the  work,  the 
reader  may  be  sure  that  it  was  inadvertent  and  not  designed. 

As  the  work  is  designed  for  general  benefit,  I  have  made 
use  of  a  plain  and  easy  style,  and  of  words  easy  to  b«  under- 
stood. Should  any  critic  complain  of  it  on  that  account, 
if  a  professor  of  Christianity,  I  would  thank  him  to  compare  it 
with  the  style  of  Moses  and  the  Prophets,  Christ  and  the  Apos- 
tles, who  always  uttered  by  the  tongue  words  easy  to  be  under- 
stood, and  used  great  plainness  of  speech. 

With  the  above  remarks,  and  my  most  fervent  prayers  that 
it  may  prove  a  general  blessing  to  mankind,  I  dedicate  it  to 
the- candid  and  careful  perusal  of  all  those  who  are,  or  wish 
to  be  the  faithful  ministers  of  Christ  ;  and  all  who  are,  or  wish 
to  be  his  humble  and  genuine  followers.  If  God  shall  please 
to  smile  on  my  weak  endeavors  to  promote  his  cause,  and 
shali  bless  the  work  to  the  quickening  of  any  of  his  ministers, 
or  the  comforting  of  any  of  his  people,  or  the  conversion  of  one 
soul,  his  name  shall  have  the  praise  for  ever. 
Parsonsjield,  Me  JOHN  BUZZELL 


- 


CHAPTER  I 

It  jRT?5  parentage,  birth,  education,  and 
occcupation.  2.  His  experience  of 
grace. 

Benjamin  Randal,  the  subject  of 
this  memoir,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Capt. 
Benjamin  Randal,  and  was  born  in  New- 
castle in  the  county  of  Rockingham,  state 
of  New-Hampshire,  February  7,  1749. 
In  early  life  he  was  seriously  disposed, 
even  from  a  child  ;  and  seemed  to  possess 
a  great  degree  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 
and  a  deep  sense  of  his  dependence  on  the 
Divine  Being  for  support  and  protection. 
He  states  in  his  Journal,  that  at  the  age 
of  five  years,  he  seldom  closed  his  eyes  to 
sleep,  without  praying  to  God  in  such 
language  as  would  best  express  the  feel- 
ings of  his  heart  $  and  that  in  those  exer- 
cises  he  was  frequently  so  affected,  that 

mi 


6 


THE    LIFE  OF 


he  could  not  refrain  from  weeping.  He 
also  says,  that  from  that  time  forward  he 
►  •practiced  secret  prayer,  and  was  always- 
led  to  pray  upon  his  knees,  or  prostrate 
on  his  face,  although  he  had  never  seen 
any  person  pray  in  that  attitude,  nor  heard 
that  it  was  ever  enjoined  as  a  duty.  He 
attributes  those  exercises  to  an  operation 
of  the  Divine  Spirit  on  his  mind  ;  and  con- 
cludes, although  his  ideas  of  the  Divine 
Being  were  at  that  time  altogether  local 
and  quite  circumscribed,  being  a  child, 
yet  he  supposes  that  the  Divine  Spirit  op- 
erated on  him  as  it  did  on  Samuel,  an- 
ciently, when  he  was  a  child.  The  prob- 
ability is,  if  his  situation  had  been  similar 
to  that  of  Samuel,  and  had  he  been  fa- 
vored^ with  similar  religious  instruction,, 
he  might  have  become  acquainted  with 
the  Lord  as  early  as  Samuel  did  5  for  he 
not  only  continued  those  devotional  exer- 
cises, but  also  discovered  an  early  taste 
for  religious  instruction.  He  paid  great 
attention  to  reading,  and  took  much  de- 
light in  attending  religious  meetings. 

His  advantages  for  education  were  not 
great,  but  by  the  assistance  of  his  parents, 


BE>"JAMI>"  RANDAL. 


his  own  industry  and  close  application  to 
study,  he  acquired  what  was  then  consid- 
ered a  decent  mercantile  education.  He 
followed  the  sea  with*  his  father  from  the 
age  of  nine,  till  he  was  nearly  eighteen  ; 
but  as  he  never  could  bear  to  hear  pro- 
fane language,  a  seafaring  life  was  very 
disagreeable  to  him.  Therefore,,  at  his 
request,  his  father  put  him  as  an  apprentice 
to  a  gentleman  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  by 
the  name  of  Tripe,  to  learn  the  art  of  sail- 
making,  where  he  continued  till  he  was 
twenty-one. 

Through  all  those  vicissitudes,  he  vig- 
orously maintained  his  forms  of  religion, 
by  keeping  up  his  regular  duty  of  prayer 
and  fasting  5  excepting  at  certain  inter- 
vals, when,  for  diversion,  he  suffered  him- 
self to  join  with  those  who  were  then  con- 
sidered, in  his  neighborhood,  the  best  sort 
of  christians,  in  what  they  called  civil 
recreation  5  such  as  dancing,  revelling, 
&,c.  Those  things,  he  said,  he  consider- 
ed no  harm,  as  long  as  he  kept  up  his  form 
of  religion  5  for,  he  said,  he  knew  of  no 
church  members  who  did  not  allow  of,  or 
practice  dancing  5  and  that  even  the  min- 


& 


THE    LIFE  OF 


isters  themselves  would  often  plead  for 
it ?  under  the  above  plausible  name.  He 
finally  remarks,  "  The  last  dance  I  ever 
attended  was  with  church  members.*" 
Yet,  he  says,  66  When  I  gave  way  to  those 
practices,  at  times,  I  used  to  feel  dread- 
ful condemnation,  and  while  under  those 
solemn  exercises,  my  fabricated  religion 
would  fall  like  lightning  to  the  ground. 
Sometimes  I  was  ashamed  to  attempt  to 
'pray..,  and  would  for  a  season  omit  the  du- 
ty, till  by  pleading  the  above  examples,  I 
lulled  my  conscience,  and  then  I  would 
pray  so  much  the  oftener ;  so  that  by  Sab- 
bath-day-night, I  had  prayed  as  many 
times  as  to  have  my  accounts  equally  bal- 
anced.55 He  also  observes,  that  with 
the  increase  of  years,  he  advanced  in 
pride,  and  became  extravagant  in  dress, 
as  far  as  his  ability  would  admit.  This 
he  considered  harmless,  as  such  dress  was 
highly  approved  by  the  church;  especially 
on  sacramental  days.  They  considered 
it  an  honor  to  the  table. 

It,  however,  appears  by  his  remarks, 
that  in  the  course  of  his  juvenile  years,  he 
was  several  times  under  pungent  convic- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


f  9 


tion,  and  had  fearful  apprehensions  con- 
cerning the  state  of  his  soul.    At  some 
periods,  the  distress  of  his  mind  was  so 
great,  that  for  a  season,  he  could  not  bear 
to  see  or  converse  with  any  person.  He 
quotes  B  uny  an  :  "I  got  out  on  that  side 
next  to  my  own  house,  and  got  well  by 
my  eld  medicine. "    In  one  of  his  remarks^ 
he  observes,  u  It  might  well  be  said  of 
me,  that  being  ignorant  of  God's  righ- 
teousness, I  went  about  to  establish  a 
righteousness  of  my  own."    Yet  it  ap- 
pears, by  his  narrative,  that  this  righ- 
teousness was  so  calculated,  that  for  the 
most  part  it  entirely  satisfied  his  con- 
science, and  rendered  his  mind  tranquil, 
even  in  times  of. imminent  danger  5  for  he- 
mentions  a  time  when  he  was  sick  at  sea, 
and  all  on  board  despaired  of  his  life  ;  yet, 
he  says,   "  I  thought  I  loved  God,  and 
that  if  I  died  I  should  be  happy."  While 
speaking  of  those  things,  he  exclaims,  '  O, 
my  God,  how  ignorant  I  have  been  !  O, 
what  a  stranger  to  the  way  of  life  and  sal- 
vation by  Jesus  Christ ! 5 

2.  The  circumstances  attending  his  con- 
version^ he  states  in  about  the  following 


10 


THE    LIFE  OF 


words.  Xi  In  1770,  the  year  that  I  was 
twenty-one,  the  God  of  heaven  sent  that 
flaming  preacher,  George  Whitefield, 
through  these  states.  He  arrived  at  Ports- 
month,  N.  H.  on  the  23d  of  September. 
But  O,  how  disgustful  to  me  was  the 
news  of  his  arrival ;  for  I  was  much  op- 
posed to  all  travelling  preachers,  who  in 
those  days,  by  way  of  derision,  were  call-' 
ed  Newlights  ;  and  in  short,  to  all,  except 
the  settled  congregational  clergy,  and  to 
every  thing  but  form,  so  that  the  power 
of  God  was  even  a  torment  to  me.  Where 
there  was  any  power  in  the  preaching,  I 
thought  it  was  all  delusion  and  enthusi- 
asm 5  and  that  all  such  preachers  were 
turning  the  world  upside  down — breaking. 

up  churches  frightening  the  people — 

that  their  earnest  and  loud  preaching  was 
all  affected,  and  designed  to  make  the  peo- 
ple cry  out,  and  make  a  noise— and  that 
they  preached  only  because  they  would 
not  work.  I  felt  enough  of  the  spirit  of 
persecution  to  have  had  all  such  preach- 
ers whipped  out  of  town $  though  I  should 
not  like  to  have  been  seen  in  it  my- 
self, yet  I  should  have  been  willing  to 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


11 


nave  seen  others  do  it."  Here  he  adds, 
"  Believing  there  are  many  others^  of  the 
same  disposition,  I  mention  this  with  grief 
and  shame,  that  if  any  such  should  ever 
read  it,  they  may  take  warning,  and  cry  to 
God  to  change  their  hearts,  and  give  them- 
selves no  rest,  till  they  feel  the  disposition 
removed.  O,  how  dreadful  to  have  a  pro- 
fession of  religion,  a  form  of  godliness, 
yet  deny  the  power  ;  to  belong  to  a  visible 
cliurch,  eat  and  drink  in  Christ's  name, 
yet  hate  his  spiritual  appearing  !  O,  what 
a  hell  I  should  have  found,  had  I  died  in 
that  state.  O,  persecuting  pharisees, 
Cliristless  professors,  take  warning,  I  pray 
you,  before  it  be  too  late.55 

To  return  to  my  narrative.  Although 
Mr.  Whitefield5s  coming  was  so  disgustful 
to  me,  yet  as  almost  every  body  else  turn- 
ed out  to  hear  him,  I  likewise  went ;  but 
more  as  a  mere  spectator,  than  with  a  de- 
sire to  reap  any  benefit ;  for  I  was  resol- 
ved that  his  preaching  should  have  no 
effect  on  me.  I  heard  him  for  the  first 
time  on  the  24th  of  September  :  he  spake 
from  Rev.  ii.  4,  5.  The  power  with  which 
he  spake  was  a  torment  to  me.  When 


12 


THE   LIFE  OF 


lie  began  to  be  engaged,  and  his  blessed 
soul  to  be  inflamed  with  love,  and  his 
heart  with  grief  and  pity  to  poor  sinners, 
and  began  to  expand  his  arms,  and  the 
tears  began  to  roll  down  from  Ins  eyes, 
it  immediately  raised  an  evil  spirit  within 
me.  Ah,  thought  I,  you  are  a  worthless, 
noisy  fellow  ;  all  you  want  is  to  make  the 
people  cry  out ;  my  good  old  minister 
does  not  do  so,  and  he  is  as  good  a  man 
as  you,  and  much  better. 

The  next  day  I  heard  him  again,  at  the 
great  meeting-house  in  Portsmouth.  He 
spake  from  Luke  xv.  2.  His  preaching 
had  much  the  same  effect  on  me  as  before. 
The  last  time  I  heard  his  blessed  voice 
proclaim  the  glorious  gospel  was  on  the 
28th  of  Sept. — Friday  before  the  Sabbath 
on  which  he  died.  He  spake  from  Mark 
xvi.  15,  16.  O,  how  wonderfully  he  spake! 
as  one  having  authority,  and  not  as  the 
scribes  $  but,  it  still  raised  a  dreadful 
spirit  of  opposition  within  me.  But  O, 
the  mercy  of  God  .!  that  he  had  not  let  me 
drop  into  hell.  O,  stupendous  love  !  O, 
what  an  eternal  wonder  it  will  be  of  long- 
suffering  patience,  that  I,  after  all  this. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


15 


and  much  more,  have  found  forgiveness 
of  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Glory>  glory,  everlasting  glory  be  to  his 
name. 

The  next  Sabbath,  Sept.  30>  1770; 
that  memorable  day  !  that  blessed  day 
to  Whitefield  !  that  blessed  day  to  me  ! 
The  minister  of  our  town  went  to  Ports- 
mouth to  preach  at  the  great  meeting- 
house, and  I  went  with  him.  At  noon, 
as  I  went  from  the  place  of  worship,  I 
stopped  with  an  acquaintance  at  Packer's 
corner  5  and  a  man  came  riding  along, 
and  as  he  rode,  he  cried,  "  Mr.  White- 
field  is  dead.  He  died  this  morning  at 
iXewbury,  about  six  o'clock."  As  soon  as 
his  voice  reached  my  ears,  an  arrow  from 
the  quiver  of  the  Almighty  struck  through 
my  heart  5  and  a  mental  voice  sounded 
through  my  soul,  louder  than  ever  thun- 
der -sounded  through  my  ears.  The 
first  thoughts  that  passed  through  my 
mind  were,  Whitefield  is  now  in  heaven, 
I  am  in  the  read  to  hell.  I  shall 
never  hear  his  voice  any  mere.  He  was 
ti  iyiru  of  God;,  and  I  have  reviled  him, 
said  spoken  reproachfully  of  him.    Pie  has 


14 


THE   LIFE  OP 


taught  me  the  way  to  heaven ;  but  I  re- 
garded it  not — O,  that  voice  is  now  silent 
in  death*;  I  would  sacrifice  any  thing  if 
I  could  but  hear  it  again*  But  ah ! 
never,  never  more  shall  I  hear  it  in  this 
life.  O,  with  what  a  loss  I  have  met ; 
but  it  cannot  be  recalled.  He  will  be  a 
powerful  witness  against  me  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  great  day.  I  trembled.  Every 
part  of  my  body  was  affected,  as  well  as 
my  mind.  I  thought,  O,  that  I  could  be 
hid,  that  no  one  might  know  how  I  felt ; 
for  I  felt  nothing  but  shame,  hell  and  con- 
demnation. I  tried  to  conceal  my  feel- 
ings till  I  got  home.  I  then  took  my 
room,  and  kept  my  distress  as  much  as 
possible  to  myself;  for  I  thought  no  per- 
son ever  felt  such  horror  as  I  did.  My 
former  religion  appeared  altogether  worth- 
less, and  fled  from  me  as  though  it  never 
had  been.  It  seemed  as  if  there  never 
was  any  person  so  vile  as  I,  nor  any  one 
possessed  of  such  heart  alienation,  and 
enmity  to  God  in  all  his  nature,  and  to 
the  manifestations  of  his  spirit  and  power ; 
no  one  that  felt  such  unreconciliation  to 
God,  in  every  sense  of  the  word.   A  query 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL,  to 

would  sometimes  arise  in  my  mind,— Why 
should  I  be  so  distressed  ?  I  have  never 
been  so  bad  as  such  and  such  people— I 
have  never  cursed  and  sworn  like  them. 
But  I  would  soon  think  again,  Ah,  their 
sins  were  all  outward ;  they  never  had 
such  a  heart  as  mine. 

I  sometimes  felt  a  little  calmed,  and 
wrote  a  little,  and  made  some  remarks  on 
the  preaching  of  Mr.  Whitefield ;  for  in 
the  time  cf  EJ  di^resfira11  his  preaching 
was  brought  to  my  remembrance ;  and 
then  my  distress  would  roll  again  upon  my 
mind  like  a  flood ;  and  I  became  so  dis- 
tracted, that  I  rose  from  my  seat,  walked 
the  floor,  and  was  ready,  seemingly,  to 
pull  the  hair  out  of  my  head.  If  any  thing 
like  comfort  came  into  my  mind,  I  could 
not,  I  would  not  have  it ;  for  it  appeared 
impossible  that  it  could  be  for  me.  Yet 
I  believed  God  was  merciful  enough  to 
save  me  and  every  body  else  ;  but  how  it 
could  be  possible  for  him  to  be  just  and 
save  me,  I  could  not  see.  Notwithstand- 
ing my  distress,  I  felt  as  if  I  could  not 
hear  that  any  of  God's  attributes  should 
be  infringed  upon.    O,  that  blessed  "  Just 


16 


THE   LIFE  OF 


God  and  a  Savior"  was  such  a  mystery 
to  me,  that  I  could  not  get  any  discovery 
of  it.  At  length  I  came  to  this  conclu- 
sion, viz.  that  it  would  be  better  for  me 
to  be  damned,  than  that  God's  justice 
should  be  infringed.  Mind,  I  do  not  say 
that  I  felt  willing  to  be  damned.  Some 
say  that  a  soul  can  never  be  converted,, 
until  they  are  willing  to  be  damned.  But 
I  do  not  believe  the  idea  ;  for  if  the  scrip- 
tures b^  ?  I  berie?e  ihey  are,  God 
is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish  ;  and 
he  never  required  that  any  of  his  crea- 
tures should  will  that  which  he  himself 
does  not  will.  I  was  never  willing  to  be 
damned,  but  I  felt  as  if  it  would  be  better 
for  me  to  be  damned,  than  that  the  glory 
of  God  should  be  eclipsed. 

I  continued  in  this  unutterable  horror 
more  than  two  weeks  5  in  which  time,  by 
experience,  I  could  say, 

«  Weeping,  wo,  and  lamentation, 
Vain  desires  and  fruitless  prayer, 
Shame,  and  hell,  and  condemnation, 
Doubt,  distraction,  and  despair," 

were  all  I  felt.  For  I  despaired  of  ob- 
taining salvation  from  any,  or  all  of  my 

£ "  "  •   ■  Si 


BENJAMIN  ilANDAL.  IT 

former  duties — of  obtaining  help  from  any 
created  power.  I  even  despaired  of  the 
mercy  of  God,  unless  there  could  be  a 
way  that  he  could  have  mercy  on  me  con- 
sistent with  his  justice  ;  for  I  was  con- 
vinced that  he  was  a  just  God,  as  well 
as  a  Savior.  In  this  situation  I  had  no 
one  to  whom  I  could  tell  my  trials,  or 
from  whom  to  receive  any  advice. 

One  day  I  had  a  little  calm  on  my  mind, 
and  while  sitting  and  musing  on  my  state, 
the  following  train  of  thoughts  fell  into 
my  mind. — Once  I  was  company  for  al- 
most any  person,  but  now  I  am  company 
for  nobody.  There  was  a  time  when  I 
took  pleasure  in  the  world,  but  now  there 
is  nothing  earthly  that  is  desirable  to  me, 
—all  things  are  tasteless  and  insipid.  O, 
that  I  had  never  been  born,  was  the  lan- 
guage of  my  heart,  for  nothing  will  again 
be  agreeable  to  me.  I  shall  never  feel 
any  more  satisfaction  in  company.  I,  who 
used  to  pray  so  much  and  so  constantly,, 
cannot  now  offer  one  petition  ;  for  it 
seemed  as  if  I  did  not  pray  at  all ;  yet, 
upon  a  recollection,  I  believe  I  breathed 
prayer  all  the  time  ;  and  that  all  my  sighs 
2*' 


18 


THE   LIFE  GP 


were,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner;** 
for  I  kept  breathing,  or  repeating  the  fol- 
lowing lines: 

"  O  God  of  mercy,  hear  my  call, 
My  load  of  guilt  remove, 
Break  down  this  separating  wall 
Which  bars  me  from,  thy  love." 

While  I  was  thus  musing,  the  words 
©fthe  apostle  (Heb.  Ix.  26)  passed  through 
my  mind,  "But  now  once  in  the  end  of 
the  world  hath  he  appeared  to  put  away 
sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself."  But  I 
was  in  such  deep  meditation,  that  they 
seemed  to  pass  through  my  mind  without 
notice.  The  same  words  occurred  a  see*- 
ond  time ;  but  still  I  took  no  thought  up- 
on them.  They  came  to  my  mind  a  third 
timer  and  I  began  to  think,  What  can 
these  words  mean?  "But  now  once  in 
the  end  of  the  world  hath  he  appeared  to 
put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself" 
As  I  was  meditating  on  this  passage,  my 
toad  and  burden  of  sm  went  off ;  and  I 
began  to  feel  calm  and  peaceable  in  my 
mind.  This  affrightened  me  ;  for  I  fear- 
ed I  was  losing  my  concern,  and  shouhl 
turn  back  into  my  old  state  and  be  as  bad 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL.  10 

or  worse  than  ever.  I  cried,  O  Lord,  I 
had  rather  remain  in  this  distressed  state, 
till  I  am  as  old  as  Methuselah,  could  it 
be  possible,  than  to  turn  back  again  to 
folly.  I  then  tried  to  make  myself  feel  as 
I  had  felt  before,  by  thinking  of  what  a 
bad  state  I  was  in,  but  I  could  not  again 
obtain  that  feeling  and  distress.  I  then 
concluded  that  the  spirit  of  God  had  de- 
parted from  me,  and  that  I  was  left  to 
myself,  and  given  up  to  hardness  of  heart 
and  blindness  of  mind.  But  still  in  all 
this,  I  could  not  feel  that  distress  which  I 
had  before  felt. 

At  length,  I  began  to  reason  with  my- 
self, in  the  following  manner  :  What  does 
this  mean  ?  What  state  was  I  in,  when  I 
was  taken  with  this  distress  ?  I  was  in 
love  with  the  world  and  its  vanities.  In 
what  state  has  it  left  me  1  The  world  and 
all  its  vanities  are  now  loathsome  to  me — 
I  hate  sin  and  folly,  and  have  no  relish 
for  any  earthly  good.  What  do  I  love  ? 
I  know  I  love  God,  and  long  after  righ- 
teousness. What  then  is  this,  but  a 
change,  wrought  by  the  power  of  God  in 
my  soul  ?   This  is  conversion ;  this  is 


20  THE   LIFE  OF 

what  I  read  of  in  the  scriptures,  being 
born  agahiy  fyc.  As  soon  as  I  believei 
this,  I  gave  glory  to  God ;  and  O  !  what 
love,  joy,  and  peace,  filled  my  soul  !  Now 
I  saw  a  just  God  and  a  Savior;  and,  in 
Christ,  I  beheld  a  blessed  sacrifice  for 
sin,  to  the  full  satisfaction  of  Divine  Jus- 
tice. O  !  how  the  character  of  Jesus 
shined  in  my  soul.  O !  thought  I,  Jesus 
is  precious  tome — " My  transport  and  my 
trust."  My  soul  kept  crying,  Jesus,  Je- 
sus, and  it  was  all  I  could  say  for  some 
time.  Ah,  it  seemed  if  I  had  ten  thou- 
sand souls,  I  could  trust  them  all  with 
Jesus.  I  §aw  in  him  a  universal  love, 
a  universal  atonement,  a  universal  call 
to  mankind,  and  was  confident  that  none 
would  ever  perish,  but  those  who  refused 
to  obey  it.  Now  I  saw  that  God  had 
ever  been  my  friend;  and  that  he  had 
ever  been  waiting  to  be  gracious  to  me. 
My  joy  became  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory.  My  soul  was  inflamed  with  love  to 
God,  as  my  great  Creator  and  Preserver ; 
to  Jesus  Christ,  as  my  only  Redeemer  ; 
and  to  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  my  Reprover 
and  blessed  Comforter.    O,  what  love  I 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


21 


felt  to  all  mankind,  and  wished  4hat  they 
all  might  share  in  that  fulness,  which  I 
saw  so  extensive  and  so  free  for  them  alL 
O,  what  pity  flowed  into  my  soul  for 
poor  sinners,  whom  I  saw  in  the  gall  of 
bitterness  and  bonds  of  iniquity. 

In  this  heavenly  frame  of  mind,  I  walk- 
ed, and  leaped,  and  praised  God,  with 
ineffable  joy,  while  no  creature  was  wit- 
ness to  my  happiness.  Thus  I  continued 
for  some  time.  But,  as  I  had  never  seen 
afiy  person  in  such  raptures  before,  I 
thought  that  no  one  could  conceive  any 
thing  about  it,  and  that  every  body,  with 
whom  I  was  acquainted,  were  strangers 
to  it.  I,  therefore,  thought  it  would  be 
best  to  keep  it  all  to  myself,  lest  I  should 
be  laughed  at,  and  ridiculed  for  it.  How- 
ever, I  soon  discovered  that  this  was  a  sug- 
gestion of  the  enemy,  and  that  it  would 
prove  a  snare  to  me^  for  I  found  that  in 
order  to  keep  my  religion  secret,  I  had  in, 
some  measure  to  conform  to  the  world, 
and  could  not  reprove  the  ungodly  much." 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  experienced 
the  above  change,  October  15th,  1770, 
being  21  years  and  8  months  old. 


THE    LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  II. 

1.  His  acquaintance  with  experienced 
christians  in  Neivcastls  and  Ports- 
mouth. 2.  His  journey  to  Marblehead 
and  Salem,  and  stay  there.  3.  His 
return  to  JYeivcastle — His  marriage. 
4.  Induction  into  the  congregational 
church ,  and  christening  his  first  child, 

1.  Mr.  Randal  now  commenced  a  life 
of  secret  devotion,  and  in  a  private  man- 
ner began  to  try  to  find  out  whether  any 
of  his  acquaintance  had  been  converted. 
He  observes  that  he  found  a  number  of 
elderly  persons  in  his  neighborhood,  who 
had  experienced  a  change  in  what  was 
called  "the  old  Whitefield  reformation." 
But  they  had  kept  their  light  so  much 
under  the  bed  and  bushel,  and  had  lived 
under  such  lifeless  preaching,  and  had  be- 
come so  much  conformed  to  the  customs 
of  the  times,  that  the  only  distinction  be- 
tween them  and  the  wicked,  was,  that  the 
former  were  a  little  more  moral  than  the 
latter  ;  but  nothing  was  said  among  them 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


23 


ftbout  experimental  religion.  He  also  re- 
marks, that  he  found  a  number  of  liv- 
ing christians  m  Portsmouth ;  especially 
among  Mr.  Brown's  followers  5  but  these 
being  a  persecuted  and  despised  people, 
especially  by  the  people  with  whom  he 
w  as  connected,  he  had  previously  formed 
a,  very  unfavorable  opinion  of  them  5  but, 
being  now  convinced  of  their  sincerity 
xmd  piety,  he  began,  in  a  private  manner, 
to  form  some  personal  acquaintance  with 
those  whom  he  had  once  despised,  which, 
doubtless,  was  for  their  mutual  comfort. 
But,  as  those  people  were  still  held  in  de- 
rision by  his  favorite  sect,  he  endeavored, 
as  much  as  possible,  to  conceal  his  ac- 
quaintance with  them,  lest  he  should  suf- 
fer the  same  fate. 

2.  In  the  year  1771,  he  made  a  journey 
to  the  west,  and  spent  the  principal  part 
of  the  summer  at  Marblehead  and  Salem, 
working  at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman ; 
during  which  time,  he  constantly  attended 
meetings  of  worship  w  ith  his  favorite  sect, 
and  endeavored  to  live  a  watchful  and 
prayerful  life,  though  he  carefully  con- 
cealed his  experience  from  all  his  acquain- 


21 


THE    LIFE  0F 


tance.  He  mentions  that  a  good  offer  was 
made  him  at  Beverly,  which,  had  he  ac- 
cepted it,  would  have  made  him  a  man  of 
business  and  property  ;  but  he  could  not 
be  prevailed  upon  to  accept ;  while  at  the 
same  time,  his  refusal  appeared  even 
strange  to  himself.  He.,  however,  after- 
wards concluded,  that  he  was  overruled 
in  this  instance  by  divine  Providence,  God 
having  designed  him  for  another  and  more 
noble  work. 

3.  In  the  month  of  October,  1771,  he 
returned  to  Newcastle,  hired  a  sail-loft 
and  sat  up  his  trade,  and  on  the  28th  of 
the  ensuing  November,  was  married  to 
Joanna  Oram,  youngest  daughter  of  Capt. 
Robert  Oram  of  Kittery,  Me.  of  whom 
he  wrote  as  follows,  "  I  believe  she  was 
the  gift  of  God  to  me,  and  that  there 
never  was  a  woman  more  suitable  for  the 
place  in  which  she  had  to  stand.  May 
God  have  the  praise." 

The  new-married  couple,  having  pre- 
viously agreed  to  live  a  religious  life,  the 
very  first  night  they  kept  house  together, 
they  reared  the  family  altar,  and  offered 
their  prayers  to  God  for  his  guidance, 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


26 


support  and  protection  through  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  life.  A  practice  which  I 
believe  they  ever  continued,  until  death 
parted  them.  This  is  an  example  worthy 
of  imitation  by  all  married  people ;  espe- 
cially those  who  profess  the  christian  re- 
ligion. 

4.  Previous  to  the  birth  of  their  first 
K>hild,  they  considered  it  tlreir  indispensa- 
ble duty  to  join  the  congregational  church, 
that  they  might  be  in  a  suitable  prepara- 
tion for  its  christening.  Accordingly, 
Mr.  Randal  visited  the  minister,  told  his 
business,  and  made  known  their  resolu- 
tion to  join  the  church.  Upon  which  the 
minister  replied,  "  Well,  Mr.  Randal,  I 
am  glad  you  have  come  to  a  sense  of  your 
duty,  I  will  propound  you  next  Sabbath;'5 
and  was  going  out  of  the  room,  when  Mr. 
Randal,  having  an  awful  sense  of  what  he 
was  about  to  undertake,  earnestly  prayed 
him  to  stop  and  sit  do*,vn,  and  wished 
him  to  answer  to  such  questions  as  he 
should  propose^  and  also  entreated  the 
minister  to  instruct  him,  and  to  ask  him 
all  needful  questions  on  the  subject;  but 
fee  said,  the  minister  did  not  ask  him  one 
3 


THE  LIFE 


question,  that  he  could  recollect.  After 
pausing  awhile,  Mr.  Randal  told  him,  in 
short,  what  the  Lord  had  clone  for  his 
soul ;  to  which,  he  said,  the  minister 
made  no  reply,  but  looked  on  him  as  if 
he  thought  it  was  strange.  Mr.  Randal 
then  desired  to  see  the  covenant  which  he 
would  propose  to  them;  and  wished  him 
to  explain  it  article  by  article,  that  he 
might  have  a  true  understanding  of  what 
it  contained.  To  this  the  minister  con- 
sented, and  let  him  take  the  copy  of  it  to 
carry  home  to  show  his  wife.  This  cove- 
nant, Mr.  Randal  and  his  wife  consider- 
ed a  very  solemn  instrument  5  they  read 
it  over  and  over  again,  and  fasted  and 
prayed  ;  and  then,  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  subscribed  their  names  to  it. — 
Hence  it  appears,  that  they  acted  sincere- 
ly, and  according  to  the  best  light  they 
had.  Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  No- 
vember, 1772,  they  were  propounded,  and 
joined  the  congregational  church  5  and 
the  child  being  born  on  the  third  day  of 
the  ensuing  December,  they  lost  no  time 
in  having  the  ceremony  performed.  The 
very  next  Sabbath,  the  child  was  car- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


ried  to  the  meeting-house,  and  Mr.  Ran- 
dal, in  a  most  solemn  manner,  held  up 
the  child  to  the  minister,  and  the  minister 
baptised  it,  as  they  all  then  thought.  The 
meeting  being  closed,  Mr.  Randal  re- 
turned with  his  babe,  and  acquainted  his 
wife  with  what  had  transpired  5  and  after 
offering  up  their  evening  sacrifice  upon 
the  fajniiy  altar,  they  took  a  quiet  repose 
under  a  conscientious  belief  that  they  had 
done  their  duty  to  the  child. 


CHAPTER  III. 

1.  Randal  awakes — Views  the  church  in 
disorder — Sees  sinners  in  danger — 
Sleep  departs  from  him — Talks  icith 
the  church  members — agrees  to  hold 
meetings^  and  obtains  consent  of  the 
minister.  2.  Hears  a  stranger  at 
Portsmouth — Invites  him  to  Newcastle 
—  The  minister  accepts  the  invitation^ 
but  is  treated  disrespectfully . 

fe  Mr.  Randal  having  now  become  a 
regular  member  of  the  church  in  New- 


2$  THE  LIFE  OF 

castle,  soon  became  acquainted  with  the 
brethren  and  sisters  who  composed  it,  and 
began  to  discover  that  the  church,  he  had 
so  lately  joined,  was  ail  in  disorder, — that 
$ome  of  its  members  were  men  of  intem- 
perance, and  of  corrupt  and  ungodly  lives, 
and  without  reproo  were  suffered  and  al- 
lowed to  come  to  the  communion  table 
every  month.  These  things,  together 
with  a  view  of  the  state  of  the  non-pro- 
fessing part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
so  affected  him,  that  he  began  to  be  in 
great  distress  *of  soul — his  food  became 
unpalatable,  sleep  departed  from  him,  and 
in  the  silent  watches  of  the  night,  while 
the  ungodly  on  every  hand  were  sleeping 
on  the  verge  of  ruin,  he  was  lamenting 
their  case,  walking  the  streets,  and  pray- 
ing to  God  for  them.  Sometimes,  he 
said,  he  was  ready  to  cry  aloud  and  warn 
them  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come ;  for, 
he  said,  he  viewed  them  running  down 
into  the  sea  of  God's  wrath,  as  the  swine 
anciently  ran  down  into  the  sea  and  were, 
choked.*  Yet,  he^said,  the  fear  of  man 
was  so  great  upon  him,  and  he  was  so 
bound  by  tradition,  that  he  dared  not  speak 


gfctfjAiriN  RANDAL. 


a  word  to  any  person,  even  in  private, 
about  those  things  for  some  time. 

About  this  time,  however,  the  summer 
of  1773,  being  exceedingly  pressed  in 
spirit,  he  began  to  break  his  mind  in  a 
private  manner  to  a  few  of  the  brethren, 
who  appeared  to  be  somewhat  tender,  and 
were  willing  to  hear  him  converse  on 
those  subjects,  with  which  his  mind  was 
so  deeply  impressed.  The  first  instance- 
of  this  kind  he  mentions  in  about  the  fol- 
lowing w  ords,  "  I  went  to  a  certain  house 
upon  business,  where  the  woman  and  her 
mother  were  both  church  members,  and 
appeared  to  be  very  sensible  people.  I 
believe  they  were  saints^  As  they  were 
free  in  conversation,  I  thought  I  would 
say  something  to  them  about  Jesus.  As 
I  began  to  talk,  their  ears  and  probably 
their  hearts  were  opened,  and  the  more  I 
said,  the  more  I  felt  to  say,  and  I  left 
them  in  great  tenderness^5  He  mentions, 
that  soon  after  this,  he  became  acquainted 
with  Mr.  John  Trefethren  and  wife,  who 
were  also  church  members,  and  were  soon, 
after  brought  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord.  All 
these  things  w  ere  kept  private, 
3* 


THE   LIFE  Or 


Those  small  beginnings  of  a  revival^ 
greatly  strengthened  Mr.  Randal's  faith, 
and  increased  his  trials  in  the  same  pro- 
portion for  he  well  knew  that  in  order 
to  obtain  the  end,  the  means  must  be  used, 
and  he  knew  well  enough  that  the  lot 
would  of  course  fall  on  him.  Although 
he  had  no  idea  at  that  time  of  being  a 
preacher,  yet  he  loved  souls,  and  longed 
for  a  reformation,  and  was  convinced  that 
under  existing  circumstances,  the  best,  if 
not  the  only  way  of  obtaining  it,  would 
be  to  set  up  a  little  meeting,  and  get  a 
few  of  the  old  brethren  together,  and  let 
them  have  the  liberty  of  improving  their 
gifts.  Therefore,  being  deeply  impressed 
with  these  ideas,  he  took  an  opportunity 
and  visited  the-  above  named  people,  with 
some  others  of  the  same  description,  and 
mentioned  his  impressions  to  them  ;  upon 
which  they  readily  agreed  to  unite  with 
him  to  hold  a  meeting  every  Sabbath  and 
every  Thursday  evening,  for  the  purpose 
of  singing,  praying,  and  reading  a  sermon 
or  some  other  good  book.  Having  agreed 
on  the  time  of  their  first  meeting,  before 
■the  time  arrived*  to  take  off  all  occasion. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


31 


Mr.  Randal  made  his  minister  a  visit,  told 
him  their  proposal,  and  asked  his  consent. 
The  minister  appeared  to  be  pleased  with 
the  measure,  and  said  he  would  sometimes 
meet  ivitk  them.  This  gave  Mr.  Randal 
great  encouragement,  and  they  met  ac- 
cordingly for  the  first  time  in  the  month 
of  May,  1774.  He,  however,  observes, 
that  the  minister  never  attended  but  one 
meeting  with  them,  and  the  probable  rea- 
son why  he  did  n*>t  attend  more,  might  be 
that  he  heard  the  old  Whitefield  sound 
among  them. 

These  meetings  wTere,  however,  con- 
tinued and  soon  produced  a  great  stir 
among  the  people.  Many  attended,  and 
there  appeared  to  be  signs  of  a  general 
revival.  For  sometime  no  outward  oppo- 
sition appeared,  only  the  cry  was  goings 
"Randal  ivants  to  be  a  pi^eacher^ 

Under  these  circumstances,  Mr.  Ran- 
dal felt  no  abatement  of  his  trials,  but  the 
distress  of  his  mind  was  rather  increased ; 
fory  notwithstanding  the  attention  of  the 
people  was  considerably  called  up,  there 
was  no  particular  out-pouring  of  the  spirit 
of  the  Lordj  such  as  he  desired  to  see. 


THE   L I F'E  (TF 


He,  therefore,  went  mourning  about,  and 
crying  to  the  Lord  in  secret  for  a  refor- 
mation; and  finding  no  food  for  his  soul, 
at  the  meeting-house,  where  he  usually 
attended,  he  began  to  go  from  place  to 
place,  to  see  if  he  could  find  any  more 
lively  preaching,  or  such  as  would  feed 
his  soul : — but  he  generally  kept  among 
the  people  of  his  own  denomination.  This5, 
however,  excited  a  jealousy  in  the  mind 
of  his  minister,  who  began  to  treat  him 
with  great  coolness. 

2.  In  March,  1775,  a  minister  from  the 
old  country,  appointed  to  preach  in  Ports- 
mouth, in  what  was  called  the  Separate 
meeting-house,  and  Mr.  Randal  hearing 
of  the  appointment,  went  to  the  meeting  ; 
he  said,  it  was  as  the  beginning  of  days 
to  his  soul,  and  that  he  should  have  reason 
eternally  to  praise  God  for  it.  The  cir- 
cumstances were  as  follow ;  When  the 
minister  arose  to  address  the  assembly,  it 
was  so  ordered  by  divine  Providence,  that, 
he  named  for  his  subject  the  same  words 
which  had  been  the  means  of  Mr.  Ran- 
dal's conversion,  Heb.  ix.  26.  u  'But  now 
once  in  the  end  of  the  world  hath  he  ap~ 


33 


peared  to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of 
himself."  Mr.  Randal  said,  the  moment 
the  man  read  the  text  it  brought  all  his 
former  experience  fresh  to  his  mind;  and 
it  seemed  to  be  as  new  to  him  as  though 
he  had  that  moment  experienced  it.  In 
this  situation,  he  said*  his  soul  was  so  rav- 
ished, that  he  arose  on  his  feet,  to  declare 
what  he  felt  5  but  recollecting  himself,  he 
thought  it  would  not  be  right  to  interrupt 
the  man;  so  he  sat  down  again.  But 
all  the  while  the  man  was  preaching,  he 
so  exactly  described  the  feelings  of  his- 
heart,  that,  he  said,  he  thought  there  was 
something  more  than  human  in  his  preach- 
ing)  that  it  must  be  the  Lord  speaking 
through  the  man.  He  adds,  "  I  was  rais- 
ed far  above  all  traditions — I  thought  I 
was  converted  anew.  I  covenanted  anew, 
with  the  Lord  5  and,  O  how  my  soul  long-., 
ed  for  the  poor  starving  people  in  ou? 
place;  for,  I  thought,  if  they  could  only 
hear  such  preaching*  they  would  all  be 
converted  and  turn  to  the  Lord." 

As  soon  as  the  meeting  was  dismissed, 
Mr.  Randal  went  up  to  the  pulpit  stairs, 
and  met  the  man,  and  took  him  by  tha 


THE   LIFE  OF 


hand,  with  an  intent  to  have  spoken  soft- 
ly to  him,  and  to  have  told  him  something 
of  bis  happiness  ,•  but,  his  soul  being  filled 
like  an  old  bottle  fall  of  new  wine,  he 
burst  out,  and  with  a  loud  voice  told,  be- 
fore the  whole  congregation,  what  he  felt ; 
and  asked  the  man  to  come  over  and 
preach  at  Newcastle,  telling  him  that 
there  never  was  a  people  more  needy  than 
they  were.  The  man  readily  consented, 
and  accordingly  made  an  appointment, 
and  desired  Mr.  Randal  to  try  to  have  the 
meeting  house  opened  for  him.  Mr.  Ran- 
dal went  home  rejoicing  in  God  5  and 
freely  told  to  all  around  him,  how  he  felt, 
and  what  glorious  preaching  he  had  heard, 
and  that  this  wonderful  preacher  was  com- 
ing to  Newcastle  to  preach.  However, 
this  wonderful  manifestation  proved  a 
means  of  opening  a  new  scene  of  trouble 
to  Mr.  Randal.  He  soon  met  with  trials 
enough  to  try  the  grace  he  had  so  lately 
received  ;  for  when  he,  with  his  brother 
Trefethren,  having  their  hearts  filled  with 
joyful  anticipations,  went  to  their  minister 
to  ask  his  consent,  that  the  meeting  house 
might  be  opened  for  the  new  preacher,  the 


BENJAMIN  RASPAL. 


35 


minister  with  his  wife,  shewed  great  re- 
sentment, and  utterly  refused  to  open  the 
house  for  the  stranger.  However,  when 
the  time  came  for  the  meeting,  the  select- 
men of  the  town  opened  the  meeting 
house,  and  the  man  preached  a  sweet  ser- 
mon to  Mr.  Randal,  and  probably  to 
other  new-born  souls  5  but  this,  also,  re- 
sulted in  another  trying  scene ;  for  while 
the  man  was  preaching,  a  man  belonging 
to  the  church,  who  was  much  given  to  in- 
temperance, brake  in  upon  the  minister 
and  abused  him,  called  him  a  da  mnl  dfool, 
and  the  like  5  and  made  such  disturbance 
in  the  meeting,  that  some  of  the  congre- 
gation were  obliged  to  carry  him  out,  yet 
neither  the  minister  of  the  place,  nor  the 
church  members  present,  took  any  notice 
of  him. 

The  reader  may  judge  what  Mr.  Ran- 
dal's feelings  must  have  been  on  such  an 
occasion.  He  says,  u  My  soul  was  in  tri- 
als, and  what  to  do  I  did  not  know  5  for 
then  I  had  no  knowledge  of  any  church 
discipline.  I  went  to  the  minister  and  en- 
tered a  complaint  against  The  man  for  dis- 
turbing the  meeting,  but  the  minister  was 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Very  short  with  me,  and  told  me,  that  lie 
had  no  right  to  take  any  notice  either  of 
me  or  him,  unless  I  would  bring  a  formal 
complaint  against  him  in  writing.  I  said 
every  thing  I  was  capable  of,  but  all  to 
no  effect.  I  received  nothing  from  him 
but  hard  language,  and  got  nothing  from 
him  afterward  but  grievous  treatment. 
If  I  met  him  in  the  street,  and  bowed  and 
spake  to  him,  he  would  even  turn  his  face 
from  me  and  look  the  other  way.  I  pe- 
titioned to  the  church  for  a  hearing,  but 
they  took  no  notice  of  me  ;  all  I  got  from 
them,  was  what  I  considered  railing.  At 
length,  communion  day  drew  nigh,  and 
my  soul  was  in  distress  ;  for  I  knew  not 
what  to  do.  I  thought  I  would  go  once 
more  to  the  minister,  and  accordingly 
went.  As  I  passed  his  window,  I  saw 
him  standing  by  it ;  but  when  I  entered 
the  room  he  was  gone.  When  I  asked 
for  him,  I  was  told  that  he  was  in  his 
study,  and  was  not  to  be  spoken  with.  I 
tarried  till  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
and  then  returned  without  seeing  him. 
The  next  morning,  I  visited  the  man  who 
had  been  the  cause  of  my  trial  by  disturb- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


nig  the  meeting.  The  man  wept,  while 
I  told  him  his  conduct,  and  thanked  me, 
and  said,  "  I  was  the  only  person  who 
had  ever  mentioned  these  things  to  him. 
He  also  appeared  very  tender,  and  prom- 
ised to  reform,  which  was  all  the  satisfac- 
tion I  could  reasonably  expect  from  him. 
It  then  came  into  my  mind  to  go  to  the 
communion,  and  as  the  minister  would 
not  speak  to  me  in  the  street,  nor  give  me 
an  opportunity  to  converse  with  him  at 
his  house,  and  the  members  with  a  few 
exceptions  were  railing  at  me,  I  thought 
they  would  forbid  me  from  coming  to  the 
table,  and  then  I  would  demand  of  them 
to  give  me  a  hearing,  and  labor  with  me 
in  a  scriptural  line."  Having  formed  the 
above  resolution,  Mr.  Randal  went  to  the 
communion,  but  was  greatly  disappoint- 
ed ;  for  instead  of  being  forbidden  as  he 
expected,  they  handed  him  the  elements 
as  they  did  the  rest,  without  any  re- 
marks. 

This  proved  another  very  serious  trial  to 
him.    However,  he  said,   he  examined 
himself,  and  then  ate  of  the  bread  and 
drank  of  the  cup  in  commemoration  of  this 
4 


38 


THE   LIFE  OF 


body  and  blood  of  Christ  as  a  single  mem- 
beij  but  not  in  fellowship  with  them. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

1.  Randal  separates  from  the  church  ;  oth- 
ers follow  his  example — Meetings  kept 
up  in  time  of  danger.  2.  Randal feels 
impressions  to  preach — Moves  his  fam- 
ily to  Kittery  ,•  removes  back — Enlists 
as  a  soldier,  but  enjoys  the  Divine 
presence.  3.  Is  convinced  of  believers' 
baptism,  yet  condescends  to  have  his 
child  christened  to  please  his  wife.  4. 
He  is  called  to  preach — Is  baptised. 

A  new  scene  now  presents  itself.  In 
May,  1775,  Mr.  Randal,  having  been  treat- 
ed in  the  manner  before  described,  came 
out  and  separated  himself  from  the  con- 
gregational church,  and  met  with  them 
no  more.  He  was  not  cast  out,  but  so 
oppressed  that  he  came  out.  It  appears 
by  his  narrative,  that  this  church  in  some 
respects  resembled  the  city  of  Laish, 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


39 


which  was  without  gates  or  bars ;  all  who 
had  a  mind  to  come  in,  came  in,  convert- 
ed or  unconverted,  and  those  who  were 
disposed  to  go  out,  went  out,  without  la- 
bor or  discipline.  Or,  it  might  be  said  to 
resemble  the  world  itself,  where  the  wheat 
and  the  tares  are  both  suffered  to  grow 
together.  Soon  after  Mr.  Randal  came 
out,  several  others  were  convinced,  and 
followed  his  example ;  and  they  w  ith  him 
held  a  constant  meeting  by  themselves, 
and  soon  became  the  subjects  of  reproach 
and  ridicule  for  so  doing.  But,  though 
they  were  fewT  in  number,  and  their  adver- 
saries many,  they  trusted  in  the  Lord  and 
kept  up  their  meetings,  and  the  Lord  own- 
ed and  blessed  them,  and  increased  their 
number.  This,  however,  was  a  time  of 
deep  distress,  being  at  the  commencement 
of  the  revolutionary  w  ar. 

They  had  fightings  w  ithout,  and  fears 
within.  A  large  British  ship  of  war 
was  then  lying  near  the  town,  and  they 
were  in  constant  expectation  that  the 
troops  would  land,  or  that  they  should 
share  the  fate  of  Falmouth,  and  other 
maritime  towns,  which  were  wanton?y 


m 


THE   LIFE  OF 


laid  in  ashes  the  same  year.  In  this  time 
Of  danger,  the  little  flock,  not  only  con- 
stantly attended  their  regularly  stated 
meetings  of  worship,  but  frequently  ap- 
pointed special  meetings  for  fasting  and 
prayer.  It  is  not  impossible,  but  He,  who 
heard  Jehoshaphat  on  a  similar  occasion, 
might  hear  this  little  company  of  despised 
believers,  and  avert  the  impending  judg- 
ment with  which  the  place  was  then 
threatened,  for  notwithstanding  their  de- 
fenceless situation,  the  attention  of  the 
enemy  was  turned  another  way,  and  the 
place  and  people  were  preserved. 

2.  Mr.  Randal  here  records  a  solemn 
impression  which  he  felt  on  his  mind  the 
first  of  June,  in  the  same  year.  He  says, 
as  he  was  walking  alone  in  a  solitary 
place,  remote  from  all  creatures,  and  was 
mourning  and  crying  to  God  for  poor  sin- 
ners, something  seemed  to  drop  into  his 
soul,  as  if  he  heard  a  voice  powerfully 
saying,  "Why  dont  you  warn  them?55 
upon  which,  he  was  immediately  impres- 
-  sed  with  the  idea  that  the  Lord  intended 
to  use  him  as  a  preacher ;  but,  he  says, 
he  felt  great  opposition  to  the  idea,  and 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


11 


thought  it  a  thing  impossible  at  that  time  ; 
and  used  every  argument  of  which  he  was 
capable  in  his  own  mind  against  it ;  and 
thought  he  should  even  rather  die  than  to 
attempt  it.  He,  however,  observes  that 
these  impressions  followed  him,  and  added 
much  to  his  trials,  white;  he  kept  them  a 
profound  secret. 

In  October,  the  same  year,  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Newcastle,  through  fear  of  the 
enemy,  chiefly  moved  back  into  the  coun- 
try ;  and  Mr.  Randal,  in  condescension 
to  his  wife  moved  to  the  upper  part  of 
Kittery  ;  but  a  sufficient  body  of  troops 
being  sent  and  stationed  on  the  Island,  to 
guard  the  place,  he  removed  back  in  No- 
vember following.  He  then  enlisted  as 
an  assistant  commissary,  and  at  the  expi- 
ration of  >the  ^ime,,  he  enlisted  for  three 
ijionihs,  as  a  sergeant  under  Capt.  Calf. 
How  much  longer  he  continued  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country,  the  author  is  not  able 
to  say.  But  Randal  observes,  that  all 
the  time  he  was  a  soldier  he  enjoyed  much 
of  the  Divine  presence,  and  that  lie  never 
lived  nearer  to  God  than  he  did  while  a 
soldier. 

4*" 


42 


THE   LIFE  OF 


3.  About  this  time,  by  a  diligent  and 
critical  examination  of  the  scriptures,  he 
was  convinced  that  believers  were  the 
only  proper  subjects  of  baptism  5  and  that 
the  practice  of  sprinkling  infants,  and  call- 
ing it  baptism^  was  a  tradition  of  man, 
and  no  where  authorized  by  Christ  or  his 
apostles,  neither  by  precept  nor  example. 
He  says,  "  Although  it  was  like  taking 
away  a  right  hand  to  give  it  up,  yet  I 
dared  not  to  hold  it,  while  I  found  not  a 
"Thus  saith  the  Lord  for  it."  Yet  he 
kept  this  thing  as  a  secret  in  his  own 
breast,  for  a  season,  lest  he  should  wound 
the  tender  feelings  of  those  with  whom  he 
united  in  the  worship  of  God.  But  it 
seems  by  hi^  narrative,  that  this  secret 
plan  did  not  work  very  well  5  for  it  soon 
led  him  into  a  snare,  or  in  other  words, 
measurably  laid  him  under  a  necessity  of 
acting  contrary  to  his  conscience. 

May  4th,  1776,  then-  third  child  was 
born,  and  Mrs.  Randal  was  remarkably 
anxious  to  have  it  christened,  and  not 
knowing  of  any  change  in  her  husband's 
mind  respecting  baptism,  urged  him  to 
the  performance  of  that  as  a  duty,  which 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


48 


he  considered  not  a  duty  ;  but  consider- 
ing the  delicate  situation  and  tender  feel- 
ings of  his  wife,  did  not  like  to  tell  her, 
in  direct  terms,  that  he  doubted  the  au- 
thenticity of  the  ceremony,  but  answered 
evasively,  and  sometimes  made  one  plea, 
and  sometimes  another,  which  neither  an- 
swered his  own  conscience,  nor  satisfied 
her  mind.  At  length,  the  minister  of 
Greenland  came  to  the  place  to  preach, 
and  Mrs.  Randal  was  very  urgent  to  have 
the  child  christened^  and  wished  Mr.  Ran- 
dal to  carry  it  to  meeting  and  have  it 
done.  He  told  her  it  would  do  no  good. 
Upon  hearing  this  answer,  she  appear- 
ed to  be  affrighted,  and  said,  <CI  don't 
know  what  you  will  become  ! "  He  then 
told  her  the  minister  would,  of  course, 
ask  him  if  he  belonged  to  the  church  5  and 
that  he  should  tell  him  that  he  did  not  5 
and  that  the  minister  would  refuse  to  do 
it.  She  then  said,  "  If  you  will  ask  the 
minister,,  and  he  denies,  I  will  not  blame 
you.'5  Mr.  Randal,  therefore,  went  to 
the  meeting,  and  in  the  intermission  ask- 
ed the  minister  if  he  would  baptise  a  child 
for  him.    The  ministeV  answered  in  the 


THE    LIFE  OF 


affirmative,  without  so  much  as  asking  his 
name.  Accordingly,  Mr.  Randal  in  con- 
descension to  his  wife,  held  up  the  child, 
and  the  minister  sprinkled  it.  But  Mr. 
Randal  afterwards  often  regretted  it, 
and  resolved  never  to  have  another  child 
sprinkled.  While  passing  -through  all 
these  scenes,  he  was  still  in  great  trials 
about  preaching.  These  impressions  were 
still  increasing  on  his  mind. 

4,  He  mentions  a  day  when  he  was  at 
work  in  his  chamber,  and  bewailing  the 
state  of  the  ungodly,  that  he  felt  the  pow- 
er of  the  Lord  impress  it  on  his  mind,  to 
go  out  and  warn  them.  And  while  he 
made  every  remonstrance  that  he  was 
capable  of  making,  in  respect  to  his  pedi- 
gree, the  smailness  of  his  gift,  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  his  natural  and  acquired  abili- 
ties ;  the  following  words,  came  suddenly 
with  weight  upon  his  mind,  "  Set  them 
before  them.55  Whereupon,  he  immedi- 
ately left  his  work,  and  opened  his  bible ; 
the  first  words  upon  which  he  cast  his 
eyes,  were,  Mark  vi.  41,  "  And  when  he 
had  taken  the  five  loaves  and  the  two  fish- 
es,  he  looked  up  to  heaven,  and  blessed 


BENJAMIN   RAH  DAL. 


45 


and  break  the  loaves,  and  gave  them  to 
his  disciples  to  set  before  them  ;  and  the 
two  fishes  divided  he  among  them  all.jr 
And  when  he  had  read  the  paragraph,  and 
considered  how  the  disciples  remonstrat- 
ed, because  they  had  so  little,  and  how 
Christ  multiplied  it,  and  made  it  enough 
for  the  multitude,  it  silenced  all  his 
pleas.        *  af  v  , 

About  this  time,  he  was  also  con- 
firmed in  his  own  mind,  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  be  baptised  by  immersion,  but 
was  affraid  to  reveal  it  to  his  brethren* 
lest  it  should  prove  a  trial  to  them,  and 
occasion  a  breach  of  fellowship.  He  con- 
cluded, therefore,  to  go  to  Stratham  and 
be  baptised  by  Doct.  Samuel  Shepard, 
who  practiced  believers'  baptism,  and 
thought  he  would  not  let  it  be  known  at 
home.  However,  before  the  premedita- 
ted time  arrived  to  go,  he  concluded  he 
could  not  be  baptised  without  the  know- 
ledge of  his  brother  Trefethren.  Accord- 
ingly, one  evening  he  sat  off  with  an 
intent  to  acquaint  him  with  his  resolution  ; 
and  it  so  happened  that  his  brother  Tre- 
fethren met  him  about  half  way,  who  was 


40  THE   LIFE  OF 

coming  to  visit  him  for  the  same  purpose. 
Soon  after  meeting,  Mr.  Randal  told  his 
errand,  and  Mr.  Trefethren  also  told  his. 
Both  were  surprised  at  the  remarkable 
occurrence — both  were  overjoyed !  None, 
but  those  who  are  believers,  can  antici- 
pate the  emotions  of  their  friendly  hearts, 
their  reciprocal  congratulations,  and  mu- 
tual exultations  ;  for  their  joy  was  un- 
speakable and  full  of  glory.  This  inter- 
view confirmed  them  both  in  their  duty, 
and  greatly  strengthened  their  faith.  They 
now  resolved  to  make  an  inquiry  among 
their  brethren,  with  respect  to  this  duty, 
and  see  how  their  minds  stood  affected 
concerning  the  same.  They,  therefore, 
attended  the  next  private  fast  meeting, 
and  when  Mr.  Randal  had  cautiously  in- 
troduced the  subject,  the  question  was 
put  to  each  individual,  and  every  one  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative,  namely,  that 
they  were  all  convinced  of  the  propriety 
and  necessity  of  believers9  baptism. 

Here  all  were  astonished  at  the  wonder- 
ful works,  and  mysterious  dealings  of  the 
invisible  and  only  wise  God,  viz.  that 
notwithstanding  they  had  kept  all  their  im- 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  4f« 

pressions  and  views  hidden  from  each  oth- 
er, it  evidently  appeared,  that  they  had  all 
be^n  at  one  school,  and  were  disciples 
of  one  Master,  and  were  all  led  by  one 
Spirit.  Their  little  humble  fast,  was  of 
course,  turned  into  a  great  and  glorious 
feast ;  and  there  are  no  words  that  could 
better  describe  their  feelings,  than  the 
following,  written  by  Mr.  Randal  himself, 
a  how  did  oar  souls  rejoi ee  together  ; 
we  leaped  and  praised  God,  for  his  won- 
derful mysterious  ways  ;  and  for  the  in- 
crease of  our  union  and  fellowship.'5  It 
was  their  intention  then,  to  have  sent  for 
an  administrator,  and  to  have  been  all 
baptised  together  ;  but  before  they  had  an 
opportunity  to  send,  Mr.  Wm.  Hooper  of 
Madbury,  N.  H.  was  ordained  5  and  Mr. 
Randal  and  Mr.  Trefethren  attended 
the  ordination  ;  and  they  with  two  others 
were  baptised  by  Mr.  Hooper,  immedi- 
ately after  the  solemnities  of  the  ordina- 
tion were  over.  Here  1  must  not  omit 
to  record  a  remarkable  event,  which  took 
place  in  respect  to  the  four  persons  then 
baptised.  They  all  afterwards  became 
ministers  of  the  gospel?  and  I  believe  ser- 


48 


THE    LIFE  OF 


vants  of  the  most  high  God.  Another' 
curiosity  might  be  added,  viz.  Benjamin 
Randal  and  John  Trefethren  were  of  gen- 
eral sentiments  ;  and  the  two  latter,  Na- 
thaniel Lord  and  Ephraim  Foss,  were  of 
particular  sentiments.  Divided  in  senti- 
ment, but  united  to  exalt  the  name  of  the 
Redeemer  and  to  oppose  sin,  the  common 
foe.  What  does  the  most  honor  to  the 
christian  cause,  I  believe  they  have  all, 
by  well  ordered  lives,  walked  worthy  of 
the  vocation  wherewith  they  were  called  5 
and  I  charitably  hope,  they  will  all  meet 
in  that  happy  world  where  there  will  be 
no  difference  of  opinion,  and  where  those 
that  turn  many  to  righteousness  shall  shine 
as  the  stars  forever  and  ever. 

CHAPTER  V. 

1.  Randal  returns  from,  baptism  rejoicing, 
but  is  again  under  grsat  trials  about 
preaching.  2.  Undertakes  to  read  a 
chapter,  and  preaches  from  the  first 
verse.    3.  Makes  a  covenant  vnth  thf 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


Lord,  and  preaches  his  first  sermon 
4).  Is  threatened^  but  continues  preach- 
ing ivith  success. 

1.  Mr.  Randal,  after  being  baptised, 
returned  home  rejoicing  and  praising 
God  5  but  was  still  under  strong  impres- 
sions to  preach  the  gospel  \  and  although 
he  had  been  clearly  convinced  that  it  was 
his  duty,  his  reluctance  and  natural  aver- 
sion to  it  were  such,  that  he  resisted  the 
impression,  till  he  was  reduced  almost  to 
a  skeleton  $  and  many  of  his  acquaintance 
thought  he  was  in  deep  consumption,  and 
he  said  himself  that  he  almost  believed  it 
to  be  the  case.  He  often  prayed  that  God 
might  take  him  out  of  the  world  5  but 
said,  he  wanted  to  be  happy  after  death, 
and  was  convinced  that  none  could  be  so 
in  disobedience. 

He  still  kept  up  his  meetings,  and  con- 
tinued them  in  the  same  form  that  was 
"first  proposed,  viz.  by  praise,  and  prayer, 
and  reading  sermons.  One  evening,  af- 
ter their  meeting  closed,  one  of  the  little 
company  said  to  him,  "  Brother  Randal, 
F  am  tired  of  hearing  you  read  old  ser- 
5 


50 


THE   LIFE  OF 


mons — If  you  will  not  preach  to  us,  de 
leave  off  reading  old  sermons,  and  read 
the  bible."  The  words,  "If  you  will 
not  preach,"  took  deep  hold  of  Mr.  Ran- 
dal— he  thought  he  was  betrayed ;  that  is* 
that  others  knew  he  was  called  to  preach, 
as  well  as  himself;  which,  he  said,  he 
knew  as  well  as  he  knew  any  thing. 

2.  After  much  consideration,  he  con- 
cluded not  to  preachu,  but  thought  he  would 
read  a  chapter  in  the  bible. 

Accordingly,  at  their  next  meetings 
when  the  time  came  to  read,  he  took  the 
bible  and  stood  up,  and  opened  to  John 
xiii.  1,  and  began  to  read,  "  JYoiv  before 
the  feast  of  the  passover,  when  Jesus 
knew  that  his  hour  was  come,  that  he 
must  depart  out  of  the  world  unto  the  Fa- 
ther, having  loved  his  own  which  were  in 
the  world,  he  loved  them  unto  the  end.'9 
Here  he  paused  ;  and  instead  of  reading, 
he  began  to  explain  what  he  had  read,  and 
thus  went  on  for  some  time,  without  con- 
sidering what  he  was  about ;  but  recol- 
lecting himself,  be  found  he  was  preach- 
ing, and  immediately  sat  down.  Here9 
he  says,  I  found  the  meaning  of  that  mys- 


BENJAMIN  SMDAL. 


m 


terious  expression,  Jer.  xx.  7,  "  O  Lord, 
thou  hast  deceived  me,  and  Itvas  deceived: 
thou  art  stronger  than  I,  and  hast  pre- 
vailed  ;  I  am  in  derision  daily,  every  one 
mockeih  vmJV  He  supposes  the  prophet 
meant,  that  the  Lord  had  led  him  contrary 
to  his  expectation^  or  as  though  he  had 
said,  "  O  Lord,  I  had  no  expectation  of  v 
being  led  as  thou  hast  led  me.  I  intend- 
ed to  have  done  otherwise  than  I  did." 
This,  he  says,  was  his  case;  for  he  in- 
tended at  the  next  meeting  to  have  read 
a  chapter,  instead  of  reading  a  sermon^ 
but  he  had  no  thoughts  of  preaching  a 
word.  The  probability  is,  that  Mr.  Ran- 
dal's feelings  at  that  time,  were  somewhat 
similar  to  the  feelings  of  Jeremiah,  ex- 
pressed in  the  9th  verse  of  the  same  chap- 
ter. 6i  Then  I  said  I  icill  not  make  men- 
tion of  him,  nor  speak  any  more  in  his 
name.  But  his  word  ivas  in  mine  heart 
as  a  burning  fire  shut  up  in  my  bones \ 
and  I  was  weary  icith  withholding,  and 
I  could  not  stay. ' 15 

When  a  man  is  really  qualified  and 
called  to  preach  God's  word,  he  will  find 
hard  work  to  hold  his  peace  ;  and  should 


62 


THE   LIFE  6P 


he  at  any  time  open  his  mouth  to  say  a 
little,  he  will  be  likely  to  say  more  than 
he  is  aware  of;  for  of  the  abundance  of 
the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh.  When 
Mr.  Randal  looked  over  his  evening's 
work,  he  was  much  mortified,  and  the  next 
day  his  mortification  was  much  increased  \ 
for,  he  said,  it  was  noised  all  about  the 
town,  "  Randal  preached  last  night!5' 
He  thought  every  body  pointed  at  him. 

He  then  concluded  not  to  read  the  bible 
any  more  in  meeting,  lest  he  should  again 
get  to  preaching.  However,  when  the 
evening  came  for  the  next  meeting,  he 
took  the  bible  and  a  volume  of  Dr.  W atts9 
sermons,  and  laid  them  together  by  him. 
When  the  time  came  to  read,  he  got  up, 
and  laid  his  hand  first  on  one,  and  then 
on  the  other,  several  times  ; '  but,  at  last, 
took  up  the  sermon  book,  and  began  to 
iread.  As  I  read,  he  says,  I  began  to  die, 
as  to  the  springs  of  life  in  my  soul  5  and 
the  more  I  read,  the  more  I  felt  my  life 
departing.  At  length,  I  thought  if  I 
dared  to  read  one  line  more,  the  Lord 
would  depart  from  me,  and  give  me  up  to 
hardness  of  heart  and  blindness  of  mind. 


B ETN JAMIN  RANDAL. 


56 


0,  how  I  felt  !  I  threw  down  the  book, 
ami  broke  out  into  a  confession,  and  cried, 
and  told  the  people  that  the  Lord  I  ad 
made  it  manifest  to  me,  for  two  years  past, 
th  a  it  was  rny  duty  to  preach  the  gospel, 
and  that  I  had  been  like  Jonah,  who  fled 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  I  have 
been  many  times  in  the  belly  of  hell,  but 
now,  by  the  grace  of  God,  am  resolved 
to  be  obedient,  and  give  myself  up  to  his 
service,  as  long  as  I  live. 

3'.  The  next  day  he  made  a  covenant 
with  the  Lord,  in  which  he  made  a  f  11 
surrender  of  himself  and  family  to  God, 
in  about  the  following  words  :  "  Dear 
Lord,  here  I  am,  I  am  thine,  thou  hast 
made  me,  and  I  have  been  the  care  of  thy 
kind  providence  continually,  though  most 
unworthy.  Lord,  take  me,  and  use  me 
as  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight.-  If  it  is  thy 
will  that  I  should  preach  the  gospel.  Lord, 
take  ine,  and  send  me  where  thou  wilt, 
only  go  with  me,  and  let  me  have  the  as- 
sistance of  thy  Spirit,  for  thou  knowest, 
Lord,  and  thy  Spirit  hast  made  me  kno  w, 
tto  I  am  not  able  to  do  anything  of  my- 
self, but  through  thee  I  can  do -all  things 
5* 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Lord,  I  do  not  count  my  life  dear  to  my- 
self, so  that  I  may  win  souls  to  Jesus 
Christ.  I  will,  by  thy  grace,  wear  out 
my  life  in  thy  cause ;  and  my  greatest 
happiness  shall  be  to  die  a  martyr  for  the 
gospel  of  Christ.  Here,  Lord,  is  also  my 
dear  wife  and  children,  I  give  them  up  to 
thee.  I  know  not  what  will  become  of 
them,  or  how  I  shall  provide  for  them  5 
but,  O  Lord,  thou  knowest,  and  I  cast 
them  on  thee.  Now,  O  Lord,  accept  of 
this  hearty  surrender,  which  I  make  for 
Christ's  sake.  Amen." 

After  making  the  above  covenant,  he 
was  greatly  strengthened,  and  waxed  bold, 
and  at  the  next  meeting,  he  took  the  bi- 
ble, and  preached  boldly  from  Rev.  iii.  12, 
"  Him  that  overcometh  will  I  make  a  pil- 
lar in  the  temple  of  my  God,  and  he  shall 
go  no  more  out ;  and  I  will  write  upon 
him  the  name  of  my  God,  and  the  name 
of  the  city  of  my  God,  which  is  New  Jeru- 
salem, ivhich  came  down  out  of  heaven 
from  my  God  ,•  and  I  ivill  write  upon  him 
my  new  name."  i 

He  spake  with  great  freedom,  and  felt 
much  assistance.    The  saints  were  much 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


55 


comforted  and  edified,  but  he  was  im- 
mediately plunged  into  greater  trials  than 
ever ;  for  the  town  was  all  in  commotion, 
and  some  said  one  thing,  and  some  anoth- 
er. He  was  threatened,  but  still  was 
preserved,  and,  in  a  manner,  w  ent  on  fear- 
less. He  preached  every  evening,  and 
frequently  in  the  day  time,  for  several 
w7eeks.  '  He  says,  "  I  preached  fourteen 
times  in  a  week,  and  worked  wrhen  I 
should  have  slept,  to  maintain  my  family  5 
for  I  had  no  way  to  maintain  them,  but 
by  hard  labor.  I  was  brought  to  great 
straits,  and  had  no  freedom  to  mention  my 
needs  to  any  person,  lest  they  should  think 
I  wanted  pay  for  preaching.  At  that  time 
too,  the  confusion  was  so  great,  I  scarcely 
knew  my  friends  from  my  foes."  After 
preaching  in  this  way  for  several  weeks, 
and  seeing  no  particular  effect,  save  that 
the  saints  w  ere  quickened,  and  comforted ; 
he  began  to  question  his  call ;  for,  as  he 
observes,  he  thought  if  the  Lord  had  cal- 
led him  to  preach,  he  should  see  more 
effect  of  his  labor.  This  threw  him  into 
a  great  trial,  and  he  was  about  to  give  up 
preaching.    But  hearing  at  that  juncture 


50 


THE   LIFE  OF 


that  a  great  reformation  had  taken  place- 
in  the  town  of  Lee,  N.  H.,  he  concluded 
to  go  and  see  the  work  ^  and  intended  to 
notify  his  brethren  of  his  departure  the 
next  Sabbath,  and  to  go  the  week  follow- 
ing.   However,  he  was  happily  disap- 
pointed.    The  next  Sabbath,  April  20, 
1777,  while  speaking  to  the  people  from 
Titus  ii.  14,  "  Who  gave  himself  for  us, 
that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity, 
and  purify  to  himself  a  peculiar  people 
zealous  of  good  works,"  the  power  of  God 
followed  the  word,  and  the  people  were 
much  affected  ;  but  nothing  was  said  vo- 
cally till  the  meeting  was  dismissed,  and 
the  people  had  gone  out,  when  to  his  great 
astonishment,  he  heard  an  outcry  in  the 
street ;  and  going  to  the  door,  he  found 
the  street  full  of  people,  and  (locking  from 
every  quarter.    He  ran  into  the  midst  of 
the  throng  to  find  if  possible  the  occasion 
of  d«e  outcry.    He  found  a  poor  widow 
in  great  distress  of  soul.    The  moment  he 
approached  her,  she  exclaimed,  "  O,  Mr. 
Randal,  what  shall  I  do  ?  I  am  a  miser- 
al   \  undone  sinner  f??    Mr.  Randal  took 
her  by  the  hand,  saying,  "  Come  in,  and  I 


BE  X  J  A  Ml  ^  RANDAL. 


51 


wiU  tell  you, ? 5  So  she  went  in,  and  im- 
mediately three  others  began  to  cry  vo- 
cally for  mercy,  and  also  inquired  what 
they  must  do  to  be  saved.  This  extraor- 
dinary event  had  a  most  powerful  effect 
on  the  whole  congregation.  Every  one 
appeared  to  be  affected  in  a  greater  or  less 
degree.  Some  were  mourning  for  sin, 
while  others  were  praising  <3od,  and  giv- 
ing glory  to  him  for  the  wonderful  dis- 
plays of  his  power,  and  for  his  goodness 
in  visiting  Newcastle  !  In  short,  the  pow- 
er and  glory  of  God  seemed  to  fill  the 
house.  Mr.  Randal,  now  found  no  time 
to  go  abroad;  he  had  work  enough  at 
home,  and  work  too  in  which  he  delight- 
ed. The  work  was  so  marvellous  for  a 
while,  and  the  opposing  party  were  thrown 
into  such  confusion  among  themselves, 
that  there  was  but  little  apparent  opposi- 
tion. People  of  all  ranks  flocked  to 
meeting  to  hear  the  new  preacher. 


THE   LIFE  0F 


CHAPTER  VI. 

1.  Randal  preaches — Many  are  cut  to 
the  heart — The  poor  widow  is  convert- 
ed. 2.  Persecution  begins — Randal 
highly  threatened— JYarroivly  escajies 
death — A  plot  laid  to  tar  and  feather 
him,  but  he  escapes.  3.  An  armed  mob 
of  forty  men  raised,  who  threaten  to  kill 
him,  but  let  him  pass  unmolested. 

L  Mr.  Randal  was  now  much  encourag- 
ed, while  he  saw  the  people  flocking  to  his 
meetings  in  crowds.  At  the  next  meeting, 
he  preached  from  Matt.  xiii.  3 — 8,  "  And 
he  spake  many  things  unto  them  in  para- 
bles, saying,  behold,  a  sower  went  forth 
to  sow  ;  and  as  he  sowed,  some  seeds  fell 
by  the  way  side,  and  the  fowls  came  and 
devoured  them  up  5  some  fell  on  stony 
places,  where  they  had  not  much  earth ; 
and  forthwith  they  sprang  up,  because 
they  had  no  deepness  of  earth :  And  when 
the  sun  was  up,  they  were  scorched  ;  and 
because  they  had  no  root,  they  withered 
away.    And  some  fell  among  thorns  ;  and 


"BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


59 


the  thorns  sprang  up,  and  choked  them. 
But  others  fell  on  good  ground,  and 
brotfght  forth  fruit,  some  an  hundredfold, 
some  sixty  fold,  some  thirty  fold." 

These  morels  were  so  suited  to  the  oc- 
casion, and  so  well  applied,  that  the  dis- 
course had  a  marvellous  effect  on  the 
hearers,  and  many  were  cut  to  the  heart  5 
and  quite  a  number  were  praying  that 
they  might  be  like  seed  in  the  good  ground. 

The  next  day,  he  preached  from  Mark 
-xii.  41 — 44, And  Jesus  sat  over  against 
the  treasury,  and  beheld  how  the  people 
cast  money  into  the  treasury  5  and  many 
that  were  rich  cast  in  much.  And  there 
came  a  certain  poor  widow,  and  threw  in 
two  mites  which  make  a  farthing.  And 
he  called  unto  his  disciples  and  saith  unto 
them  5  verii)  I  say  unto  you,  that  this 
poor  widow  hath  cast  more  in,  than  all 
they  which  have  cast  into  the  treasury. 
For  all  they  did  cas*  in  of  their  abun- 
dance,  but  she  of  her  v  ant  did  cast  in  all 
that  she  had,  even  all  her  living.'" 

This  passage,  was  not  less  appropriate 
than  the  above,  and  was  attended  with  a 
similar  blessing.    The  poor  widow,  above 


THE    LIFE  01 


named,  who  cried  for  mercy  in  the  street* 
being  present,  arose,  and  made  a  public 
offering  of  herself,  soul  and  body,  to  the 
Lord.  The  work  of  the  Lord  was  won- 
derful, and  daily  increased  till  about  thirty 
persons  were  hopefully  converted.  By 
this  time,  however,  those  which  had  re- 
ceived the  seed  by  the  way  side,  on  stony 
places,  and  among  thorns,  had  almost 
worn  off  their  conviction,  and  the  old 
dragon  lost  no  time  in  mustering  his  dis- 
astered  forces,  and  soon  had  them  paraded 
in  their  usual  order. 

2.  The  spirit  of  persecution  now  evi- 
dently appeared  in  many  ;  and  all  the  en- 
emies of  liberty  and  equality  in  the  re- 
gion were  alarmed,  and  Mr.  Randal  was 
highly  threatened.  Drums  were  beaten 
for  volunteers — mobs  raised — tar  and  fea- 
thers prepared,  &c. 

Here  I  must  not  omit  to  record  several 
instances  which  are  stated  in  an  extract 
of  his  life,  written  by  himself  not  long  be- 
fore his  death. 

He  says,  66  Now  persecution  grew  very 
hot,  and  there  was  such  threatening  lan- 
guage given  out,  that  I  really  felt  in  dan- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


til 


get  of  my  life  ;  but  I  gave  myself  to  pray- 
er, and  the  Lx>rd  very  marvellously  pre- 
served me.  As  I  was  walking  the  street 
one  day,  some  one  threw  a  large  piece 
of  brick  at  me  which  brushed  my  hair, 
on  the  back  part  of  my  head,  and  was 
thrown  with  such  violence  that  when  it 
struck  the  board  fence,  it  broke  to  pieces. 
Had  I  been  but  two  inches  further  back 
it  must  have  split  my  head.  O,  may  eter- 
nal praise  be  given  to  him  who  shielded 
my  life.  I  looked,  and  saw  the  brick 
when  it  struck  the  fence,  and  was  about 
to  turn  my  head  to  see  where  k  came 
from,  and  who  sent  it,  but  a  thought 
struck  my  mind,  I  wont  ;  I  don't  want  to 
know.  -Now  I  can  pray,  "  Lay  not  this 
sin  to  their  charge.5'  If  I  should  know,  - 
it  may  be,  when  I  see  them,  I  may  feel 
some  hardness.  One  evening,  a  num- 
ber came  to  my  house  and  stood  before 
the  door.  They  railed  at  and  cursed  me, 
and  said  they  would  throw  me  into  the 
river.  These,  I  believe,  were  chiefly 
from  a  neighboring  town.  Once,  I  ap- 
pointed a  meeting  in  Newcastle  on  the 
mainc;  where  a  number  collected.  One 
6 


THE   LIFE  0F 


of  the  selectmen  of  Rye,  and  one  of  thfc 
selectmen  of  Newcastle,  each  having  a 
number  of  men  with  him,  met  at  a  gate, 
where  they  thought  I  should  pass,  and 
brought  a  bucket  of  tar,  and  a  hanker- 
chief  full  of  feathers,  in  order  to  tar  and 
feather  me ;  but  it  so  happened  that  I  and 
my.  company  went  by  water  to  the  place 
where  the  meeting  was ;  and  the  mob 
knew  it  not,  till  after  meeting  was  begun. 
They  were  so  exasperated  at  their  disap- 
pointment, that  they  tar  and  feathered  the 
two  posts,  and  the  beam  of  the  gate  from 
end  to  end,  and  there  it  remained  for  a 
long  time,  for  a  memorial  of  their  folly. 
Many  that  passed  by  had  them  in  derision. 

3.  After  recording  the  above,  he  men- 
tions another  very  trying  scene,  through 
\vhich  he  had  to  pass  the  same  summer ; 
but  for  some  reason,  conceals  the  name 
of  the  town,  where  the  affair  took  place ; 
and  only  mentions  the  circumstances  at- 
tending, and  the  final  result,  which  were 
in  substance  as  follows,  viz.  He  was  in- 
vited by  an  individual  to  preach  in  a  cer- 
tain town,  at  a  private  house,  and  previ- 
ous to  the  day  appointed,  he  was  frequent- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL.  63 

ly  told  that  the  people  of  the  town  had 
said,  if  he  came  there  to  preach  they 
would  moh  him.  On  the  evening  before 
the  appointment,  one  of  the  brethren  came 
to  inform  him,  that  it  would  not  do  for 
him  to  go,  for  the  town  was  all  in  an  up- 
roar. He,  however,  concluded  that  the 
Lord  had  called  him  there  to  preach,  and 
accordingly  went.  As  he  was  about  enter- 
ing the  town,  he  called  on  an  old  friend, 
who  appeared  to  be  very  glad  to  see  him, 
but  told  him  that  the  people  were  very 
much  agitated,  and  that  they  haci  been 
around  the  day  before  with  a  drum,  beat- 
ing for  volunteers  5  Jhat  they  had  raised 
as  many  as  forty  men,  who  were  then  col- 
lected at  a  tavern,  which  stood  by  the 
road  where  he  was  to  pass,  to  go  to  his^ 
appointment  5  and  also  that  he  understood 
that  a  certain  man  had  offered  them  a  bar- 
rel of  rum,  if  they  would  kill  him.  After 
hearing  the  above,  and  much  more  to  the 
same  purpose,  Mr.  Randal  answered  with 
his  usual  firmness  and  aptness, ,u  that  is 
the  devil's  old  regiment.  He  raised  forty 
men  once  before  to  kill  brother  Paul,  but 
he  missed  it,  and  I  believe  he  will  be  dis- 


04 


THE   LIFE  OF 


appointed  now.  I  believe  God  has  called 
me  to  preach  in  the  town,  and  I  am  re- 
solved to  go.  I  have  no  life,  nor  wife,  nor 
children,  nor  name,  nor  cause,  but  the 
honor  and  cause  of  the  blessed  Jesus  5  and 
I  had  better  die  a  great  many  times  over, 
than  to  desert  that  cause  and  bring  a  re- 
proach on  it.  All  who  came  in,  said  all 
they  could  to  hinder  him,  and  told  him  he 
had  better  not  venture. 

He  says,  "  I  had  none  to  encourage  me, 
but  my  blessed  Master.55  To  form  the  eli- 
"urnX  lii  aiscouragement,  ine  woman  of  the 
house  where  the  meeting  was  appointed, 
eame  a  cross  way  tp  meet  him,  and  came 
in  crying,  and  said,  "  Mr.  Randal,  I  have 
come  to  tell  you  that  it  will  not  do  for  yon 
to  go  to  our  house  to  day,  for  they  will 
kill  you,  and  they  threaten  to  do  us  much 
harm.    Mr.  Randal  replied,  "  Do  not  be 
afraid,  woman,  you  shall  not  be  injured 
by  me.    I  must  go  into  the  town  to  preach 
the  gospel,  and  I  don5t  want  a  house  to 
preach  in.    I  am  willing  to  stand  under  a 
tree,  and  speak  to  any  who  will  hear  me ; 
I5 11  run  the  risk  of  their  harming  me.55 
He  and  his  friends  then  went  on,  and  pas^- 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  65 

M  the  tavern,  and  although  the  mob  was 
there  sure  enough,  not  one  of  them  ap- 
peared, and  there  was  not  a  dog  to  move 
a  tongue.  At  length  they  came  to  the 
house  where  the  meeting  was  appointed, 
and  finding  the  man  calm  and  not  affrigh- 
tened-  by  their  threatenings,  they  con- 
cluded to  have  the  meeting  in  the  house. 
After  waiting  awhile  to  see  if  the  mcb 
would  come,  Mr.  Randal  began  his  meet- 
ing. He  spake  from  Acts  xiii.  46,  "  Then 
Paul  and  Barnabas  waxed  bold,  and  said, 
it  was  necessary  that  the  word  of  God 
should  first  have  been  spoken  to  you  :  But 
seeing  ye  put  it  far*  from  you,  and  judge 
yourselves  unworthy  of  everlasting  life,  lo? 
we  turn  to  the  gentiles. ?r 

After  a  short  introduction,  as  he  was 
about  entering  upon  his  doctrinal  points, 
behold,  the  mob  appeared.  This  pro- 
duced some  disorder  in  the  meeting.  The 
women  being  affright ened,  ran  out.  The 
men,  however,  kept  their  seats,  and  Mr. 
Randal  continued  his  discourse,  and  in- 
stead Gf  being  intimidated  at  their  appear- 
ance, like  Paul  and  Barnabas,  he  ivaxed 
bold,  and  attended  regularly  to  the  exj>i&«- 
6* 


66 


THE   LIFE  OF 


nati  on  of  the  important  subject  .  He  says* 
"  As  soon  as  I  saw  them  I  felt  a  most 
blessed  degree  of  the  power  of  God  drop 
into  my  soul,  and  it  appeared  to  me  that 
it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to  touch 
me ;  and  if  they  should  pull  down  the 
house,  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to 
pull  one  stick  of  k  upon  my  head  ;  for  I 
felt  shielded  all  around  with  the  power  of 
God." 

The  mob  marched  up  to  the  corner  of 
the  housey  where  they  halted  and  formed 
a  line.  It  was  so  ordered  by  Divine 
providence,  that  a  remarkable  shower 
arose,  and  while  Mr*  Randal  was  loudly 
blowing  the  gospel  trumpet  within,  to  the 
waiting  audience,  the  mob  without  wit- 
nessed a  scene  somewhat  similar  to  that 
anciently  witnessed  by  the  stifTnecked  He- 
brews, near  the  base  of  Sinai,  while  Mo- 
ses their  inspired  leader  was  talking  with 
God  in  the  mount.  He  says,  "  It  soon 
began  to  thunder  and  rain  very  fast  the 
thunder  was  very  heavy,  and  the  lightning 
was  very  terrible ;  but  there  they  stood 
till  the  meeting  was  ended."  This  mar- 
vellous shower,  lasted  about  as  long  as- 


BEN /A  MIS  RANDAL. 


6t 


Mr.  Randal's  meeting.  When  the  cloud 
had  passed  over,  he  dismissed  the  assem- 
bly and  went  out  to  the  men,  and  sev- 
eral of  them  shook  hands  with  him,  and 
not  one  of  them  gave  him  an  unhandsome 
word.  The  mob  then  retired  5  and  Mr. 
RandaPs  friends,  supposing  the  danger  to 
be  over,  left  him  to  go  home  alone.  Mr. 
Randal,  after  taking  some  refreshment, 
between  sunset  and  dark  went  on  to  an 
evening  appointment,  which  was  on  his 
way  home  5  and  when  he  had  rode  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the4  house,  he 
found  the  mob  standing  two  abreast  in  the 
road,  which  was  surrounded  by  a  thicket 
of  pine  bushes.  He  rode  up  to  them,  and 
as  he  approached,  they  parted  to  the  right 
and  left,  and  gave  him  the  path  ;  and  as 
he  passed  through  them,  they  bowed  and 
wished  him  good  night.  "  This,"  he  says, 
"  was  all  the  mobbing  I  got.  O,  the 
infinite  goodness  of  God,  to  unworthy  me  I 
What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all 
his  goodness ;  I  will  take  the  cup  of  salva- 
tion, and  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord.5* 
Here  the  candid  reader  will  see  that 
Mr.  RandaPs  faith  was  brought  to  a  fair 


G8 


THE    LIFE  OF 


trial,  and  notwithstanding  bis  persecutors 
were  not  suffered  to  lay  violent  hands  on 
him,  yet  it  appears  by  every  circumstance 
that  it  was  their  intention  either  to  have 
done  him  corporal  harm,  or  to  have  af- 
fright one  d  him,  and  prevented  him  from 
delivering  the  message,  which  God  had 
given  him  to  deliver  in  that  place.  Had 
he,  under  these  impious  threatenings  and 
appearances  of  danger,  sought  to  have 
saved  his  natural  life,  he  must  of  course, 
have  lost  his  spiritual  life,  and  brought  a 
reproach  on  the  cause  of  the  blessed  Re- 
deemer, strengthened  the  hands  of  the 
wicked^  and  probably  emboldened  his  per- 
secutors to  have  committed  greater  out- 
rages. But,  knowing  his  calling  to  be  of 
God,  he  committed  his  All  to  him,  as  un- 
to a  faithful  Creator ;  and  with  a  firmness ' 
and  holy  boldness,  worthy  of  an  ambassa-  > 
dor  for  Christ,  he  steadily  pursued  hi^t 
journey,  and  delivered  his  message  ;  in 
doing  which  he  offered  his  life  upon  the  # 
gospel  altar,  as  Abraham  offered  his  son 
on  mount  Moriah.  And  as  Abraham, 
when  sufficiently  tried,  found  ka  ram  for  a 
burnt-offering,  caught  in  a  thicket  by  the 


BFNJAMIN  RANDAL. 


69 


Horns  ;  so  our  gospel  hero,  after  passing 
through  every  trial  relative  to  this  alarm- 
ing affair,  found  the  mob  in  a  thicket,  with 
as  little  power,  and  probably  with  as  little 
inclination  of  doing  harm,  as  Abraham" s 
ram. 

How  evident  it  is  from  the  above,  that 
he  who  seeks  to  save  his  life  shall  lose  it ; 
but  he  who  will  lose  his  life  for  Christ's 
sake  and  the  gospel,  shall  find  it  5  and  that 
they  who  trust  in  the  Lord  shall  never 
be  confounded.  Ministers  should  never 
count  their  lives  or  any  thing  else  dear  to 
them,  in  comparison  with  Christ  and  his 
cause.  But  if  in  danger,  should  say  like 
the  pious  Psalmist,  "  At  what  time  I  am 
afraid  I  will  trust  in  the  Lord.5'  Mr. 
Randal  now  left  the  scene  in  gospel  tri- 
umph, having  a  deep  and  enlarged  sense 
of  the  goodness  of  God,  and  his  divine^ 
protection.  He  was  now  if  possible  more 
confirmed  in  his  mission  than  ever.  His 
faith  was  greatly  increased  and  his  strength 
renewed.  He  says,  "  I  felt  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  like  fire  shut  up  in  my  bones  ; 
I  had  kept  back  till  I  was  weary  with  re- 
pining, and  my  time  appeared  very  short  \ 


70 


THE    LIFE  OF 


for  I  was  so  weak  that  I  could  hardly  go 
about,  yet  I  used  to  preach  every  day, 
and  sometimes  three  times  a  day."  Fi- 
nally, it  appears  by  his  narrative  that  he 
spared  no  pains  to  win  souls  to  Christ, 
and  his  gospel  reward  was  in  proportion 
to  his  labors.  He  sowed  much  and  reap- 
ed much.  He  went  forth  weeping,  bear- 
ing precious  seed,  and  came  again  with 
rejoicing  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him. 

~>*«@®«« 
CHAPTER  VII 
1.  Randal  preaches  in  the  country — Is  in- 
vited to  New-Durham — Passes  through 
Bailing  ton — Sees  great  effect  of  his 
labors — Is  persecuted,  or  rather  re- 
proached and  railed  at.  2.  Great  mov- 
ing at  JYeiv -Durham — A  day  of  fasting 
agreed  on,  to  inquire  of  the  Lord  wheth- 
er it  would  be  right  for  him  to  settle  in 
the  town.  3.  His  removal.  4.  The 
Baptists  in  JXeiv-England  all  in  union. 
5.  Randal  called  upon  to  tell  why  he 
did  not  preach  the  doctrine  of  election. 

I  .  Mr.  Randal  now  began  to  travel  in- 
to the  country,  and  preached  part  of  the- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


n 


time  in  Madbury,  N.  H.  and  in  other 
places  adjacent,  and  saw  much  of  the 
glory  of  God  in  the  conversion  of  souls, 
and  increase  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 
About  this  time,  several  men  from  the 
town  of  New-Durham,  heard  him  preach, 
and  invited  him  to  make  them  a  visit,  ear- 
nestly entreating  him  to  come  and  preach 
in  the  town  where  they  lived.  A  way  be^ 
ang  opened  t>y  the  providence  of  God,  he 
soon  after  went.  On  his  way  he  passed 
through  Barrington,  N.  H.  where  he  at- 
tended several  meetings,  and  saw  much 
fruit  of  his  labor.  He  says,  *  It  was  a 
wonderful  journey.  Wherever  I  went, 
my  blessed  Master  was  with  me.  The 
power  of  God  fell  on  old  and  young  ;  and 
sinners  were  crying  for  mercy,  and  many 
were  rejoicing  in  God  all  through  Bar- 
rington ;  but  some  opposed  me  with  great 
rage,  and  called  after  me,  and  railed,  and 
threatened,  but  the  Lord  preserved  me. 

2.  When  he  came  to  New-Durham, 
and  had  preached  the  word  there,  he  found 
a  great  moving  on  the  minds  of  the  peo* 
pie  in  general,  and  several  of  the  inhabit- 
ants were  urgent  to  have  him  move  his 


THE    LIFE  Of 


family  into  the  town,  but  he  gave  them  no 
encouragement.  He,  however,  made  them 
another  visit  the  ensuing  fall,  and  finding 
them  still  urgent,  he  told  them -if  he  could 
know  that  it  was  the  will  of  the  Lord,  he 
would  come.  It  was  then  thought  propt- 
er, by  him  and  them,  on  an  occasion  so 
important,  to  hold  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer,  and  so  inquire  the  mind  of  the 
Lord,  with  respect  to  this  thing.  This 
being  done,  all  were  satisfied  that  the  thing 
proceeded  from  the  Lord.  Accordingly, 
a  respectable  committee  were  appointed, 
and  sent  with  proposals  of  settlement  to 
Mr.  Randal,  who  having  become  satisfied 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  go,  answered  them 
in  the  affirmative  5  but  told  them  that  he 
could  hear  nothing  -about  proposals,  for 
he  never  intended  t©  be  confined  to  any 
people,  but  meant  to  be  every  person's 
minister.  However,  he  said,  "  I  have  a 
family,  and  am  not  able  to  move  them 
mny  further  than  I  can  carry  them  by  wa- 
iter ;  and  if  you  will  carry  them  and  me  to 
your  town,  I  don't  expect  you  will  let  us 
lie  out  doors,  but  I  expect  you  will  find 
me  a  house,  and  I  mean  that  these  hands 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


«f  mine  shall  administer  to  my  necessi- 
ties.9 

3.  Thus  the  business  was  soon  con- 
cluded 5  and  on  the  23d  of  March,  1778, 
Mr.  Randal  with  his  family  left  Newcas- 
tle, and  on  the  26th  of  the  same  montk 
arrived  at  New-Durham. 

This  year  was  remarkable  for  reformat 
tions  ;  the  work  of  the  Lord  spread  much 
in  several  towns,  particularly  in  Gilman- 
ton,  Loudon  and  Canterbury,  N.  H.,  and 
many  were  brought  to  rejoice  in  the 
Lord  5  and  several  were  called  into  pub- 
lic testimony,  Mr.  Randal  spent  his 
time  chiefly  in  preaching  and  travelling 
the  country,  and  mentions  that  he  had 
many  afflictions  to  pass  through. 

4.  Here  I  would  just  remark,  that 
from  the  time  of  Mr.  Randal's  baptism  to 
this  time,  nothing  had  transpired  or 
place,  to  cause  any  division  or  dis 
among  the  Baptist  brethren  in  New-Eng- 
land.  All  were  in  love  and  union.  Ail 
were  in  harmony  ^  unanimity  pervaded 
the  whole.  Mr.  Randal,  to  be  sure,  was 
of  general  sentiments,  and  did  not  know 
but  that  it  was  the  case  with  all  his  breth- 


n 


THE   LIFE  OF 


ren.  All  were  engaged  to  exalt  the  name 
of  Christ,  and  to  describe  to  their  fellow 
mortals  their  undone  situation  without 
him,  and  the  way  of  life  and  salvation  by 
him.  The  Baptist  ministers,  at  that  time, 
made  a  very  humble  appearance,  and  ob- 
served the  strictest  rules  of  temperance. 
They  considered  Christ  as  their  only  ex- 
ample, and  his  apostles  as  their  learned 
guides.  They  were  exceedingly  tenacious 
©f  scriptural  doctrine,  scripture  words, 
and  scripture  rules.  They  used  a  very 
common  diet,  and  appeared  in  very  mod- 
est  and  plain  apparel.  Their  very  ap- 
pearance seemed  to  command  the  respect 
and  reverence  of  every  candid  beholder. 
I  recollect,  when  I  was  a  youth,  that  they 
used  to  pass  by  .my  father's,  in  companies, 
to  attend  their  great  meetings,  and  the 
sight  of  them  always  put  me  under  con- 
viction. I  thought  they  looked  like  the 
apostles  of  Christ ;  and  notwithstanding 
they  were  held  in  derision  by  the  people 
with  whom  I  was  connected,  and  I  was 
also  in  my  sins ;  yet  there  was  a  testimo- 
ny in  my  conscience,  similar  to  that  an- 
ciently expressed  by  the  soothsaying  dam- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


75 


sel :  "  These  men  are  the  servants  of  the 
most  high  God,  that  shew  unto  ns  the  way 
of  salvation." 

It  would  have  been  considered  almost 
a  crime,  in  those  days,  for  a  Baptist  min- 
ister to  appear  in  the  desk  in  a  black 
coat,  with  black-balled  boots,  or  in  a  dry 
warm  day  with  gloves  on  his  hands,  an^ 
an  umbrella  over  his  head,  to  keep  the 
sun  from  shining  on  him.  Such  an  one, 
would  have  been  considered  rather  a  mer- 
chant of  Babylon,  than  a  follower  of  the 
despised  Nazarene. 

Nothing  had  been  said  about  Calvinism 
or  Armmianism.  Mr.  Randal  says,  "As 
the  doctrine  of  Calvin  had  not  been  in 
dispute  among  us,  I  had  not  considered 
whether  I  believed  it  or  not.  But  as  the 
Lord  had  shewed  me  an  universal  atone- 
ment, and  fulness  enough  in  Christ  for  ail 
men — the  appearance  of  g  race  to  all  men 
— that  the  call  of  the  gospel  was  to  all, 
and  that  God  was  not  willing  that  any 
should  perish — that  same  love  constrained 
me  to  go  forth,  and  call  upon  all  men  to 
co  ne  to  Christ  and  be  saved. 99  Mr. 
Randal  was,  at  that  time,  a  regular  mem- 


THE  I.IFE  OF 


ber  of  Berwick  church,  and  for  any  thing- 
that  he  knew,  in  good  standing.  He  went 
on  preaching  from  place  to  place,  as  he 
thought  he  was  led  by  the  Spirit.  The 
reformation  increased,  converts  were  mul- 
tiplied, and  love  and  harmony  prevailed 
among  the  brethren.  But  alas  !  the 
scene  soon  changed,  and  trials  succeeded. 

5.  Mr.  Randal  soon  found  himself  in  a 
place  too  strait  for  him.  He  was  one 
day  very  unexpectedly  called  upon  by 
one  of  his  old  brethren  in  the  ministry  in 
a  public  assembly,  to  tell  why  he  did  not 
preach  election,  as  Mr.  Calvin  held  it. 
Mr.  Randal  replied,  "  Because  I  do  not 
believe  it."  Upon  hearing  this,  the  min- 
ister fell  into  dispute  with  him,  and  the. 
longer  they  conversed  on  the  subject,  the 
more  they  differed ;  and,  finally,  a  com- 
plete separation  "was  the  result.  Bat  not 
without  several  more  sharp  trials,  which 
will  be  described  in  the  sequel. 

Previous  to  this,  Mr.  Randal  had  con- 
sidered the  scriptures  to  be  the  oracles  of 
God,  and  read  them  for  the  sole  purpose 
of  knowing  what  they  testify  concerning 
Him,  and  what  duties  He  requires  of  men*, 


benjamin  Sandal. 


if 


together  with  the  rewards  promised  to  the 
obedient,  and  punishments  denounced  up- 
on the  disobedient;  without  inquiring 
particularly  into  their  systematical  con- 
struction. But  the  above  attack  put  him 
upon  thinking  ;  and  he  began  now  to 
study  more  deeply  upon  the  subjects  con- 
tained in  the  bible,  and  to  theorize  on 
what  he  read.  The  more  he  read  and 
thought  on  those  things,  the  more  he  was 
established  in  his  first  principles,  i.  e.  the 
principles  with  which  his  mind  was  so 
deeply  impressed  at  the  time  of  his  con- 
version. For  although  there  were  sever- 
al texts  in  the  writings  of  St.  Paul,  whiqfe 
are  hard  to  be  understood,  and  which  he 
at  that  time  was  not  able  to  construe* 
being  young,  and  not  historically  ac- 
quainted with  the  circumstances  which 
existed  at  the  time  those  things  were  writ- 
ten. Yet,  finding  the  tenor  of  scripture 
in  his  favor,  he  concluded  that  as  all 
scripture  was  given  by  inspiration  of  God, 
they  must  all  be  right,  and  all  consistent 
with  each  other ;  and  of  course  these 
texts,  if  rightly  understood,  must  contain 
a  sense  coincident  with  the  rest  of  the  bi- 


78 


THE    LIFE  OF 


ble.  He  also  concluded  that  as  God  had 
led  him  to  understand  many  other  passa- 
ges, He  would  also  in  due  time,  lead  him 
to  understand  these.  He  says,  "  The 
more  any  one  disputed  with  me,  the  strong- 
er I  grew  in  my  sentiments  ;  because  it 
made  me  search  the  scriptures  more,  and 
pray  more  earnestly  to  God,  for  a  right 
Understanding  of  them." 

«+»©@®«— 

CHAPTER  VIII 

1.  A  meeting  appointed  at  Gitmanton— 
I  Randal  called  upon  to  answer  for  him- 
self and  his  antagonist  publicly  de- 
clares that  he  has  no  fellowship  with 
Mm,  in  his  principles — Randal's  reply. 
2.  He  is  again  called  xipon  to  answer 
for  his  errors,  and  is  dropped  tcithout 
rejection  or  dismission — Much  public 
excitement.  3.  Randal  becomes  a 
member  of  a  separate  church,  and  is 
ordained.  4.  Church  embodied  at 
JYew-Durham. 

1.  In  July,  1779,  a  meeting  being  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose,  at  the  Baptist 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


79 


meeting-house  in  Gilmanton,  Mr.  Randal 
was  called  upon  to  answer  for  himself 
before  a  public  assembly.  A  debate  en- 
sued which  continued  the  greater  part  of 
two  clays  5  and  at  the  close,  the  minister, 
who  had  been  principal  in  the  debate, 
arose,  and  made  a  public  declaration  in 
the  following  words,  "  I  have  no  fellow- 
ship with  brother  Randal,  in  his  princi- 
ples." Upon  hearing  this,  Mr.  Randal 
stepped  upon  a  seat,  and  said,  44  It  makes 
no  odds  with  me,  who  disowns  me,  as 
long  as  I  know  that  the  Lord  owns  me.'* 
?  And  now  let  that  God  be  God,  who  an- 
swers by  fire  ;  and  that  people,  be  God's 
people,  w  hom  he  owneth  and  blesseth." 

2.  Soon  after  this,  he  was  called  upon 
again  to  answer  for  what  they  called  his 
errors,  before  another  public  assembly,  at 
Madbury  meeting-house.  Also,  a  broth- 
er by  the  name  of  Daniel  Lord,  was  call- 
ed to  the  same  meeting  on  the  same  oc- 
casion. He  records  nothing  very  partic- 
ular of  what  transpired  at  that  place; 
only  says,  "  They  had  us  in  a  great  meet- 
ing-house, before  a  great  assembly,  and 
disputed  with  us  as  long  as  they  saw  fit  J 


so 


THE    LIFE    Q  F 


and  then  let  us  go,  without  either  owning 
or  disowning  us.  He  adds,  u  I  applied  to 
the  church  to  which  I  belonged,  for  a 
discission,  but  they  would  never  grant  it. 
Neither  was  there  ever  a  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  churchy  to  labor  with  me, 
that  ever  I  knew  of  5  and  so  they  let  me 
alone.59 

These  public  and  sharp  labors  with  Mr. 
Randal,  had  no  conciliating  effects  ;  but 
rather  tended  to  increase  the  division. 
Much  was  said  about  Randal  and  his 
doctrine,  and  the  public  excitement  was 
very  great.  Almost  every  body  was 
searching  the  scriptures,  to  see  what  doc- 
trine they  contained,  and  what  principles 
to  adopt  5  and  as  fast  as  they  got  satisfi- 
ed, they  took  a  stand  on  one  side  or  the 
other,  and  a  visible  separation  began  to 
take  place  through  all  the  region. 

3.  About  the  beginning  of  1779,  a 
church,  embodied  by  Eld.  Edward  Lock, 
in  Loudon  and  Canterbury,  N.  H.,  sep- 
arated themselves,  and  protested  against 
Calvin  election.  In  August,  the  same 
year,  the  brethren  in  Barrington  who  had 
been  considered  a  branch  of  the  Berwick 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


Si 


churchy  being  of  general  sentiments,  em- 
bodied into  a  church,  and  became  sepa- 
rate 5  and  Eld.  Toser  Lord,  who  having 
been  previously  ordained  at  Lebanon5 
Me.,  by.Br.  Samuel  Shepard  and  others, 
separated  himself  from  the  Calvinistie 
church,  and  the  same  fall,  became  a 
member  of  the  church  in  Barrington.  In 
31  arch,  1780,  Mr.  Randal  was  received 
into  the  fellowship  of  the  same  churchy 
and  on  the  5th  day  of  the  ensuing  Aprils 
he  was  publicly  ordained,  at  New-Dur- 
ham, to  the  work  of  an  evangelist. 

The  ordination  was  performed  in  the 
following  manner,  viz.  Elder  Toser  Lord 
preached  a  sermon  suited  to  the  occa- 
sion, from  Acts  xiii.  2,  3 ;  "  As  they 
ministered  to  the  Lord  and  fasted,  the 
Holy  Ghost  said,  separate  me  Barnabas 
and  Saul,  for  the  ivork  ichereunto  I  haw 
called  them,  and  when  they  had  fasted, 
and  prayed,  they  laid  their  hands  on 
them,  and  sent  them  away."  Elder  Lord 
also  gave  the  charge.  Elder  Edward 
Lock  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 
Here  Mr.  Randal  took  the  title  of  Elder 
Randal.    A  title  which  I  shall  frequently 


82 


THE    LIFE  OF 


make  use  of  in  the  sequel,  instead  of  Mr. 
Randal,  being  more  familiar  both  to  me 
and  the  people  of  the  connexion. 

4.  Elder  Randal  now  began  his  gos- 
pel career,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
connexion,  now  extending  over  a  great 
part  of  North  America,  commonly  known 
by  the  denomination  of  Free  Will  Bap- 
tist. 

The  circumstances  attending  this  mem- 
orable event,  he  records  in  about  the  fol- 
lowing words,  u  There  being  a  consider- 
able number  of  brethren  and  sisters  in 
New-Durham  and  its  vicinity,  we  had  it 
in  contemplation  to  embody  as  a  church 
by  ourselves,  and  were  still  of  opinion 
that  there  must  be  some  written  articles  of 
faith,  and  a  written  covenant  for  us  to 
sign ;  although  we  concluded  that  the 
scriptures  of  truth  were  the  only  rule  of 
faith  and  practice. 

It  was,  therefore,  agreed  that  I  should 
write  such  articles  and  such  a  covenant  as 
I  thought  would  do,  and  lay  the  same  be- 
fore the  brethren  for  them  to  judge  of.  I 
accordingly  wrote  thirteen  articles  which 
may  be  seen  by  referring  to  the  church  re- 

I 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  S3 

cord,  vol.  i.  I  also  wrote  the  following 
covenant,  which  I  here  insert  for  the  sat- 
isfaction of  those  who  may  wish  to  know 
how  this  denomination  first  embodied. 

The  Covenant. 

"  We  do  now  declare  that  we  have 
given  ourselves  to  God  $  and  do  .  now 
agree  to  give  ourselves  to  each  other  in 
love  and  fellowship  5  and  do  also  agree 
to  take  the  scriptures  of  truth  for  the  rule 
of  our  faith  and  practice,  respecting  our 
duty  toward  God,  our  neighbors,  and  our- 
selves. 

We  do  promise  to  practice  all  the  com- 
mands in  the  New  Testament  of  our  Lord 
and  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  so  far  as  they 
are  now,  or  shall  be  made  known  to  us 
by  the  light  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  truth, 
without  which,  we  are  sensible,  we  can- 
not attain  to  the  true  knowledge  thereof. 
We  also  promise  to  bear  each  other's  bur- 
dens, and  so  fulfil  the  law  of  love,  which 
is  the  law  of  Christ.  We  do  further  agree 
to  give  liberty  for  the  improvement  of  the 
gifts  of  the  brethren,  and  to  keep  up  the 
worship  of  God,  and  not  to  forsake  the 


THE    LIFE  OF 


assembling  of  ourselves  together,  as  the 
manner  of  some  is.  We  do  likewise  fur- 
ther agree  not'  to  receive  any  person  into 
fellowship,  except  they  give  a  satisfactory 
evidence  of  a  change  in  life  and  heart ; 
and  also  promise  to  submit  to  the  order  of 
the  Gospel  as  above.  Amen." 

"  After  the  above  named  articles,  and 
covenant  were  drawn  up  and  laid  before 
the  members,  on  the  30th  of  June,  1780. 
we  all,  in  a  solemn  manner,  by  prayer 
and  supplication  to  the  Lord,  covenanted 
together  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  signed 
our  names  to  the  above  instrument.  This 
is  the  beginning  of  the  now  large  and  ex- 
tensive connexion,  called  Free  Will 
Baptist." 

Here,  the  candid  reader  will  see  how 
God  owned  this  good  man,  and  blessed 
his  labors  in  the  gospel,  notwithstanding 
his  brethren  considered  him  to  be  in  great 
errors.  However,  he  was  now  pleasant- 
ly situated,  and  surrounded  with  a  compa- 
ny of  loving  brethren,  of  his  own  senti- 
ments, and,  as  we  may  say,  with  a  table 
furnished  before  him  in  the  presence  of  his 


#.  t  • 

BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  85 

enemies.  Yet  he  was  almost  continually 
laboring  under  peculiar  trials  in  his  own 
mind  ;  for  although  he  was  confident  that 
God  had  converted  his  soul,  and  had  call- 
ed him  to  preach  the  gospel,  there  were 
several  passages  of  scripture  which  he  did 
not  fully  understand,  and  as  he  was  now 
placed  as  the  mark  of  opposition,  his  op* 
posers  would  often  throw  those  passages 
in  his  way,  in  order  to  confute  hi  n,  viz. 
siclf  as  Rom.  viii.  29,  "Whom  lie  did 
foreknow,  them  he  also  did  predestinate," 
£lc.  Eph.  i  4,  "'  According  as  he  hath 
chosen  us  in  him,  before  vhe  foundation  of 
the  world."  And  Ro:n.  ix.  13,  "Jacob 
have  I  loved,  and  Esau  have  I  hated." 
"  Many  .are  called,  but  few  are  chosen," 
&lc.  When  any  of  his  ojrposers  threw  any 
of  those  passages  in  his  way,  he  would 
not  pretend  to  construe  them,  but  confess- 
ed that  lie  did  not  fully  know  the  meaning 
of  them,  and  at  the  same  time  would  tell 
them,  that  they  would  prove  nothing  for 
them  ;  and  that  he  believed  that  if  fuljy 
understood  they  contained  a  sense  which 
run  parallel  with  the  universal  call  of  the 
gospel. 
8 


J  * 

86  THE   LIFE  0*£ 

CHAPTER  IX. 


1 .  Randal  is  brought  to  a  stand — Expe- 
riences a  remarkable  manifestation  of 
light.  2.  Anecdote — His  first  visit  to 
Little-falls — success  in  preaching.  3. 
Opjjosiiion  ttt  the  time  of  baptism.  4. 
The  church  embodied  at  Tamivorth  and 
ano  ther  in  Barring  ton  JV.  H. 

1.  After  preaching  a  while,  Elder  Ran- 
fell  into  a  great  trial,  in  respect  to  the 
meaning  of  those  controverted  subjects. 
At  length  his  trial  so  increased,  that  he 
was  brought  quite  to  a  stand,  and  said  he 
fen?  as  if  he  could  not  preach,  unless  he 
could  have  those  subjects  opened  to  his 
mind.  Soon  after  this  he  was  thrown  into 
great  distress  of  soul,  in  which  time  he 
cried  constantly  to  the  Lord  to  be  taught. 
He  said,  he  felt  no  freedom  to  search  any 
Writings  to  get  the  opinions  of  men ;  he 
even  felt  forbidden  to  do  it. 

Here  he  relates  an  extraordinary  mani- 
festation, which  he  experienced  in  the  end 
of  his  trial,  and  which  proved  satisfactory 


BENJAMIN  KANDAL. 


87 


10  him  in  respect  to  the  meaning  of  those 
passages.  He  says,  "  Sometime  in  July, 
1 780,  I  was  in  great  trial  of  mind,  on  ac- 
count of  the  above  texts ;  and  in  order 
that  I  might  not  he  discovered  by  any,  I 
walked  into  a  remote  place,  where  I  had 
a  piece  of  corn  growing,  and  went  into 
the  midst  of  it.  My  soul  was  in  great 
agony,  I  sat  down  upon  a  rock  and  was 
praying  to  my  heavenly  Father  to  be 
taught.  All  at  once,  it  seemed  as  if  the 
Lord  denied  to  teach  me.  This  increas- 
ed my  trial,  and  I  cried,  Lord,  why  may 
I  not  be  taught  ?  And  the  answer  was, 
"  because  thou  hast  too  many  right  hands, 
and  too  mmiy  right  eyes."  I  said,  "Lord, 
what  are  my  right  bands,  and  right  eyes  V9 
And  it  appeared  to  me  that  they  were  my 
tradi-ions,  which  I  still  held,  and  my  6^d 
brethren  whom  I  had  come  out  from  5  for 
although  I  had  left  them,  I  was  too  much 
filing  upon  them,  and  had  not  fully  re- 
nounced their  doctrines  and  opinions.  I 
sa  w  too,  that  I  was  too  much  incumbered 
with  natural  connexions.  I  saw  that  I 
needed  much  purifying  and  refilling;  I 
said,  Lord,  here  I  am,  take  me,  and  do 


THE   LIFE  «P 


with  me  as  thou  wilt.    I  freely  surrender- 
ed my seif,  that  moment,  into  his  hands; 
and  O  !  the  flaming  power,  which  instant- 
ly passed  through  my  soul.    It  would  be 
impossible  to  give  any  person  an  adequate 
idea  of  it,  unless  they  had  experienced  the 
same.    It  was  so  amazingly  powerful,  and 
began  to  strip  away  every  thing  frtfm  me, 
in  such  a  manner,  that  I  thought  I  was 
going  to  lose  all  I  ever  had.    I  began  to 
hold  back  a  part ;  but  immediately  some- 
thing whispered  in  my  soul,  saying,  Didst 
thou  not  resign  up  all  ?  I  said,  yea,  Lord, 
and  here  I  am.    The  power  then  increas- 
ed in  my  Soul  until  it  stripped  me  of  eve- 
ry created  thing,  as  to  my  affections.  I 
tried  to  recollect  my  brethren  and  connec- 
tions, but  I  could  not  get  any  feeling  sense 
of  them.    I  had  no  feeling  of  any  thing, 
but  the  great  and  awful,  terrible  and 
dreadful  majesty  of  God,  which  sunk  me, 
as  it  were,  into  nothing.    When  I  was 
thus  stripped,  it  appeared  to  me  that  I 
saw  a  white  robe  brought  and  put  over 
me,  which  covered  me  all  over.    I  looked 
down  all  over  me,  and  I  appeared  as  white 
as  snow.    A  perfect  calm,  an  awful  rever- 


BENJAM'IN  RANDAL.  89 

ence,  and  solemn  Tear  of  God,  pervaded 
all  my  soul.  A  bible  was  then  presented 
before  the  eyes  of  my  mind,  and  I  heard 
a  s •  ill  small  voire,  saying  look  therein. 
I  looked  in  at  the  beginning  of  Genesis, 
and  looked  out  at  Revelation.  I  saw  all 
the  scriptures  in  perfect  harmony  ;  and 
those  texts,  about  which  my  opposers 
were  contending,  were  all  opened  to  my 
mind  ;  and  I  saw  that  they  ran  in  perfect 
connection  with  the  universal  love  of  God 
to  men — the  universal  atonement  in  the 
work  of  redemption,  by  Jesus  Christ,  who 
tasted  death  for  every  man — the  universal 
appearance  of  g race  to  all  men,  and  with 
the  universal  call  of  the  gospel;  and,  glo- 
ry to  God  !  my  soul  has  never  been  in 
any  trials  about  the  meaning  of  those 
scriptures  since.  Afcer  passing  through 
the  above,  the  scene  was  withdrawn.  I 
came  to  myself,  and  was  sitiijig  on  the 
rock,  and  all  flowing  with  sweat,  and  svas 
so  weak  that  I  co  lu  hardly  sit  up.  I  ob- 
served the  sun,  and  found  I  had  been  in 
this  exercise  as  much  as  one  aud  a  half 
hour.  I  never  could  tell  whether  I  was 
in  the  body  or  not," 
8** 


THE    LIFE  OF 


It  would  doubtless  have  been  gratifying 
to  my  readers,  if  Elder  Randal  had  given 
a  short  specimen  of  his  extraordinary  view 
of  the  construction,  and  plain  meaning  of 
those  controverted  subjects,  to  which  he 
alludes.  All  candid  christians,  no  doubt, 
will  admit  that  the  scriptures  of  truth  are 
in  perfect  harmony  ;  and  if  rightly  and 
fully  understood,  contain  no  paradoxes. 
Yet  good  men  of  different  persuasions, 
have  different  views  of  the  meaning  of 
scriptures,  and  are  naturally  apt  to  put 
such  constructions  on  them,  as  will  best 
prove  their  favorite  systems,  and  promote 
their  favorite  objects. 

The  partizans  of  all  denominations  are 
lo  dly  proclaiming,  that  the  scriptures  are 
all  in  unison  with  their  sentiments,  and  go 
to  prove  their  doctrines.  Some  men  pre- 
sume that  if  they  can  select  as  many  sim- 
ple verses,  or  half  verses  as  there  are  ca- 
nonical books  in  the  bible,  and  can  by 
any  mode  of  alligation  without  any  re- 
gard to  their  connections,  put  them  in  such 
order,  as  to  make  them  appear  to  prove 
some  darling  doctrine,  whi  h  they  may  af- 
fect to  hold,  under  any  pretext  y\  hatever? 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


91 


they  will  even  dare  to  affirm,  that  all  the 
bible  goes  to  prove  their  system. 

Elder  Randal,  however,  was  not  of  the 
above  description  :  but  was  quite  the  re- 
verse. He  ever  appeared  to  entertain  the 
highest  sense  of  the  authenticity  of  the  ho- 
ly scriptures,  He  believed  they  were 
written  by  holy  men,  inspired  by  God  for 
that  purpose  5  and  that  they  contain  every 
thing  necessary  for  us  to  believe  and  prac- 
tice. He  also  considered  it  to  be  almost 
an  unpardonable  sin,  for  any  one  wilfully 
to  add  to,  or  take  away  from  that  sacred 
book.  He  considered  any  man  eq  mlly 
obnoxious,  who  should  dare  to  wrest  any 
part  of  the  scriptures,  for  the  sake  of 
maintaining  or  supporting  any  favorite 
tenet.  He  also  considered  it  gross  pre- 
sumption for  himself  or  any  other  mfin, 
in  the  capacity  of  a  public  teacher,  to  of- 
fer an  explanation  upon  any  passage  of 
scripture,  unless  he  was  led  understand* 
ingly  into  the  same,  by  the  spirit  of 
God. 

It  might  further  be  remarked  that  El- 
der Randal  was  not  one  of  those  disrip'cs, 
who  keep  their  light  under  the  bed  or 


THE    LIFE  OF 


bushel  5  but  at  all  times  and  on  all  occa- 
sions, he  ever  appeared  to  be  willing  to 
set  his  light  on  a  candlestick^  that  it  might 
give  light  to  all  who  came  into  the  house. 
Neither  was  he  like  those  preachers  who 
strive  to  please  every  body,  and  accom- 
modate their  discourses  to  the  opinions  of 
those  who  hear  them;  bat  he  zealously 
maintained  his  opinions  at  hone  and 
abroad,  before  his  friends  and  his  foes,  his 
admirers  and  persecutors,  without  seeking 
the  applause  of  the  one  or  fearing  the  re- 
proach of  the  other.  I  recollect  of  hear- 
ing him  say/  not  long  before  his  death, 
that  he  defied  any  man  to  prove  that  ever 
he  preached  any  more  than  one  doctrine 
wherever  he  had  travelled. 

2.  The  Following  anecdote  will  give 
the  reader  a  specimen  of  his  manner  of 
dealing  with  those  v^hom  he  thought  han- 
dled the  word  of  God  deceitfully.  A  min- 
ister in  high  standing  having  an  occasion- 
al call  to  preach  in  New-Durham,  Eider 
Randal  with  others,  turned  out  to  hear 
him  ;  and  he  invited  the  preacher  to  snp 
with  him.  S  pper  hem?  over,  the  follow- 
ing conversation  look  place. 


BENJAMIN  RANBAL. 


M.  Brother  Randal,  I  preach  as  free 
as  yon  do.    I  have  to-day. 

R.  I  know  you  tried  to,  hut  I  could  see 
your  bare  spots.  However,  I  believe  a 
great  deal  of  what  you  have  said  to-day  \ 
and  should  have  said  Amen,  if  I  had 
thought  you  believed  it  yourself ;  but 
there  was  something  in  me,  that  kept  say- 
ing ail  the  while  you  was  preaching,  "  He 
is  a  hypocrite — he  is  a  hypocrite.  He  has 
a  mitten  for  either  hand.  When  he  is 
with  the  Predes'inarians,  then  he  is  a 
preat  Predesiinarian ;  and  when  he  is  with 
the  Free  Wiilers,  then  he  is  a  great  Free 
Wilier.55 

M.  Weft,  brother  Randal,  I  believe 
there  is  no  one  that  will  ever  be  able  to  say  m 
that  of  you ;  for  I  believe  when  you  are 
with  those  who  think  differently  from  you, 
you  sway  the  harder  up'on  your  principles. 

R.  That  I  do,  indeed.  And  I  do  it,  if 
possible,  to  convince  them  of  their  errors. 

This  manner  of  plain  dealing  often  stir- 
red up  Elder  Randal's  enemies  5  and 
caused  them  to  speak  reproachfully  and 
diminutively  of  him  5  but,  at  the  same 
time,  procured  him  a  great  many  friends  ; 


THE   LIFE  OF 


for  it  often  happened  that  those  who  were 
his  most  violent  opposers,  by  hearing  his 
plain  and  pointed  discourses,  were  convin- 
ced, and  became  his  most  loving  breth- 
ren. His  honest  zeal  and  assiduous  labors 
were  often  rewarded  with  large  companies 
of  new  -born  souls  ;  w  hile  others,  of  more 
acquired  abilities,  have  died  without  see- 
ing much  fruit  *of  their  labors.  Elder 
Randal  now  felt  his  heart  greatly  enlarg- 
ed, and  began  to  feel  impressions  on  his 
mind  to  travel  more  extensively.  The 
same  year,  he  travelled  east  as  far  as  Sa- 
co  river,  and  made  his  first  visit  to  Little- 
Falls,  (now  called  Hollis.)  A  reforma- 
tion took  place,  and  spread  in  that  region, 
m  till  a  church  was  embodied  consisting  of 
one  hundred  members.  But  here,  as  well 
as  in  other  places,  he  met  with  opposition. 

3.  One  day  as  He  was  about  to  adminis- 
ter baptism  to  a  number  of  candidates,  and 
for  that  purpose  repaired  to  a  small  mill- 
pond,  it  being  the  most  convenient  place  5 
the  man  who  owned  the  pond,  feeling  great 
opposition  to  Randal,  resolved  to  deprive 
him  of  the  privilege  of  baptising  in  it.  He 
ran  immediately  to  his  mill,  and  hoisted 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


So 


both  gates  to  draw  off  the  water,  and  so 
disappoint  him.  Randal  observing  that 
the  water  was  fast  falling,  without  know- 
ing the  intention  of  the  man,  said,  "  Our 
heavenly  Father  has  given  us  water  to 
baptise  in,  and  we  must  improve  it  while 
we  have  it and  began  to  baptise.  The 
man  finding  himself  disappointed,  ran  wi  th 
great  violence  to  the  bridge,  and  taking 
up  a  club  in  his  hand,  threw  it  at  Randal 
as  he  was  baptising  ;  but  some  of  the  peo- 
ple caught  hold  of  his  arm,  and  stopped 
its  force,  so  that  it  fell  short  and  dropped 
into  the  water.  Several  clubs  were  af- 
terward sent ;  but  the  mischief  was  pre- 
vented in  the  same  manner.  Randal  ob- 
served that  clubs  were  falling  into  the  wa- 
ter, but  being  solemnly  engaged,  he  made 
no  inquiry,  until  the  candidates  were  all 
baptised ;  when  coming  up  out  of  the  wa- 
il ter,  and  seeing  a  tumult  among  the  people 
on  the  bridge,  he  inquired  the  cause  of  it. 
Upon  which  he  was  told  that  there  was 
a  man  on  the  bridge,  who  had  been  try- 
ing to  kill  him  while  he  had  been  baptis- 
ing. "  Where  is  the  dear  soul,"  said 
Randal^  "  Let  me  go  and  speak  to  him." 


pi 

so 


THE   LITE    Q  P 


Crowding  through  the  people,  he  came  t© 
the  man,  and  began  to  address  him  in  the 
most  loving  manner.  But  the  man  see- 
ing Randal,  immediately  setting  his  brow 
as  brass,  and  his  neck  as  an  iron  sinew, 
drew  back  his  arm,  and  directed  his  fist 
at  Randal's  face  ;  and  no  doubt  the  blow 
might  have  proved  painful,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  all-preserving  hand  of  God,  through 
the  interference  of  several  friendly  persons 
who  were  standing  by,  and  suddenly  prill- 
ed Randal  out  of  the  man's  reach.  "  Why 
did  you  not  let  him  strike  me  V  said  Ran- 
dal, "it  might  have  been  the  means  of  the 
conversion  of  his  dear  soul."  He  never 
appeared  to  value  what  he  suffered,  if  he 
could  but  see  souls  converted.  This  same 
year,  the  work  of  the  Lord  spread  in  a 
very  rapid  manner  through  the  country 
roi.nd  about,  and  many  were  hopefully 
converted. 

4>.  The  ensuing  February,  1781,  he  es- 
tablished a  church  in  Tamworth,  N.  H., 
and  the  work  of  God  spread  in  a  wonder- 
ful manner  through  that  region,  which  was 
then  a  wilderness,  but  thinly  inhabited. 
The  same  year,  also,  another  church  was 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


97 


embodied  inBarrington,  N.  H.,  consisting 
of  a  large  number  of  members.  These 
events  greatly  encouraged  Elder  Randal. 
He  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost,  anl 
spared  no  pains  to  spread  the  news  of  free 
salvation  to  his  perishing  fellow  mortals. 
The  times  were  hard,  money  very  scarce, 
the  people  poor,  and  he  in  indigent  cir- 
cumstances, having  now  a  wife  and  five  lit- 
tle children,  and  no  salary,  only  w  hat  the 
people  pleased  to  give  him,  which  was 
very  little.  But  he  arose  early,  sat  up  late, 
and  ate  the  bread  of  carefulness,  working 
w  hen-he  could  for  the  maintenance  of  his 
family  5  but,  making  preaching  his  main 
business,  he  often  went  hungry  himself 
for  the  sake  of  feeding  others  with  the 
bread  of  life. 

~»*©@©<«*- 
CHAPTER  X. 

J.  Randal  makes  his  ftcst  visit  to  Kenne- 
beck — Preaches  at  Parker's  Island  and 
Woolwich.  2.  Meets  with  opposition — 
Preaches  on  a  grave.  3.  Embodies  a 
church  at  Woolwich,  and  returns. 
1.   Elder  Randal  now  began  to  feel 

powerful  drawings  in  his  mind  to  travel 
9 


98 


THE   LIFE  *F 


eastwardly,  and  says,  "I  had  very  great 
impressions  on  my  mind  to  travel  eastward 
as  far  as  Kennebeck  river  5  but  felt  op- 
posed to  the  impression,  as  I  thought  it 
appeared  impracticable  under  the  existing 
circumstances  5  for  it  being  then  about 
the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war,  money 
was  very  scarce,  and  I  had  but  little,  and 
knew  if  I  went,  I  must  be  altogether  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  country  5  and  be- 
sides, it  was  then  a  new  thing,  in  this 
country,  for  ministers  to  travel  from  place 
to  place,  to  preach  5  and  that  such  were 
considered  the  common  disturbers  of  The 
peace,  breakers  up  of  churches,  &lc."  But 
having  been  under  those  impressions  for 
some  time,  he  says,  "  On  the  last  day  of 
September,  1781,  I  set  out  alone,  and 
travelled  as  far  as  Saco  river,  where  I 
found  a  brother  who  was  willing  to  ac- 
company me  to  the  end  of  the  journey. 
The  Lord  granted  us  his  presence,  and 
prepared  our  way  before  us,  and  we  met 
with  much  kindness  on  the  way.55 

They  crossed  the  Kennebeck  river  at 
Georgetown,  and  held  their  first  meeting 
or*  Parker's  Island.     Here  they  were 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


greatly  encouraged.  The  people  were 
very  solemn,  and  desirous  again  to  bear 
the  word.  They,  therefore,  appointed  to 
preach  at  the  same  place  the  next  day.  At 
this  meeting  they  received  still  greater  en- 
couragement. The  power  of  the  Lord 
was  manifested  among  the  people  5  many 
were  stricken  under  powerful  conviction, 
and  the  work  resulted  in  a  very  glorious 
reformation. 

The  next  day,  Oct.  2,  1781,  Elder 
Randal  made  his  first  visit  to  Woolwich, 
Me.,  where  he  found  a  number  of  pre- 
cious christians,  who  were  longing  for  the 
coming  of  the  Lord  with  power.  He 
preached  his  first  sermon,  from  Solomon's 
Song  i.  7,  8  5  "  Tell  me,  O  thou  whom  my 
soul  loveth,  where  thou feedest,  where  thou 
makest  thy  flock  to  rest  at  noon  ;  for  why 
should  I  be  as  one  that  turneth  aside  to 
the  flocks  of  thy  companions  ?  If  thou 
knowest  not,  O  thou  fairest  among  wo- 
men, go  thy  way  forth  by  the  footsteps  of 
the  flock,  and  feed  thy  kids  beside  the 
Shepherd's  tents."  When  he  mentioned 
the  words,  the  power  of  .  God  seemed  to 
accompany  them  to  the  hearts  of  the 


100 


THE    LIFE  OF 


saints,  and  a  marvellous  season  ensued. 
The  children  of  God  appeared  like  so 
many  sheep,  hearing  the  voice  of  their 
shepherd  and  running  to  meet  him,  and 
leaping  into  the  pasture  where  he  feedeth* 
and  where  he  inaketh  them  to  rest.  The 
followers  of  the  Lamb  seemed  unable  to 
contain  their  joys,  and  as  Gideon's  men 
every  one  broke  their  pitchers,  and  cried, 
"the  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon  ;'  ? 
so  these  praised  God  and  the  Lamb  in  a 
wonderful  manner. 

This  marvellous  display  of  Immanr.ePs 
power,  excited  almost  universal  attention, 
and  the  people  of  all  ranks  turned  out  to 
hear  the  new  preacher.  The  next  day,  he 
preached  again  at  the  same  place,  from 
Philip,  ii.  9  ;  "  Wherefore  God  hath  high- 
ly exalted  him,  and  given  him  a  name 
tvhieh  is  above  every  name :  Thai  at  the 
name  of  Jesus  every  knee  should  boiv,  of 
tilings  in  heaven,  and  things  in  earth, 
and  things  under  the  earth ;  and  that 
every  tongue  should  confess.  Jesus  Christ 
to  be  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Fa- 
ther. V  This  also  was  a  day  which  will 
long  be  remembered.  Hundreds  attended, 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


101 


many  of  whom  upon  hearing  the  discourse 
were  solemnly  convinced  of  their  duty, 
and  being  pricked  in  their  hearts,  be?an 
to  do  as  every  body  should  do,  (i,  e.)  bow 
the  knee  to  Jesus,  and  confess  him  to  be 
Lord  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father. 
The  most  carnal  were  struck,  and  cried 
for  mercy,  and  the  work  spread  with 
mighty  power  throughout  the  vicinity. 

At  the  close  of  this  meeting,  another 
new  scene  presented.  A  number  offered 
themselves  for  baptism,  and  he  repaired 
to  the  water  and  bap-ised  five.  He  says, 
64  although  there  were  about  three  hundred 
persons  present,  there  were  no  more  than 
throe  that  ever  before  saw  baptism  ad- 
ministered by  immersion."  He  observes, 
that  as  far  as  he  co;dd  learn,  this  was  the 
first  instance  of  the  kind  which  had  then 
taken  nlaoe  east  of  North-Yarmouth.  I 
would  here  remark,  that  Mary  Savage 
(now  Mary  Card)  was  one  of  the  above 
n  v and  although  blind  from  her  birth, 
she  has  ever  been  blessed  with  spiritual 
eve-si ^ht,  and  has  been  a  very  useful  niem- 
hev,  and  yet  remains  a  mother  in  Israel. 

2,  By  this  time,  however?  the  ministers 
9* 


102 


THE   LIFE  OP 


and  members  of  the  old  churches  in  that 
region  had  become  much  alarmed.  Some 
said  one  thing  and  some  another,  and  not- 
withstanding they  were  generally  strong 
Calvinists,  believing  that  God  for  his  osvix 
glory,  had  foreordained  whatsoever  comes 
to  pass ;  they  were  quite  unreconciled 
to  this  dispensation,  and  manifested  great 
fear  that  it  would  result  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  doctrine,  and  the  overthrow 
of  their  churches. 

One  instance  will  suffice  as  a  specimen 
of  the  opposition  with  which  he  met.  I 
was  told  by  hiui  and  by  others,  that  he 
was  invited  to  preach  in  a  certain  meet- 
ing-house in  the  region,  and  attended  at 
the  time  appointed.  When  he  came  to 
the  place,  a  large  congregation  of  people 
had  gathered  before  the  meeting-house^ 
and  the  parson  of  the  parish  was  among 
the  rest,  who  stepped  up  to  Randal  and 
demanded  of  him  to  tell  by  what  authority 
he  did  these  things,  viz.,  to  go  and  appoint 
meetings  in  parishes  which  were  not  his 
own.  Randal  very  readily  informed  him 
that  he  was  called  and  authorized  of  God, 
tg  go  into  aJl  the  world,  and  preach  the 


BENJAMIN   K  A  N  DAL. 


103 


gospel  to  every  creature.  The  parson 
upon  hearing  this  flew  into  a  viole  it  pas- 
sion, and  demanded  him  to  work  a  mira- 
cle as  a  confirmation  of  his  word  5  and 
pointing  at  the  whip  which  Randal  held  in 
his  hand,  lifted  up  his  voice  with  a  com- 
manding tone,  saying,  "I  demand  of  you, 
in  the  presence  of  this  congregation,  to 
turn  that  rod  into  a  serpent."  A  gentle- 
man of  the  town,  who  was  standing  by, 
said,  "  I  think  if  he  was  to,  you  would  be 
the  first  man  that  would  run  from  it." 
By  this  time,  the  people  were  in  an  uproar. 
Some  were  for  having  Randal  go  into 
the  meeting-house,  and  some  were  for 
keeping  him  out-.  Randal  desired  silence 
and  said,  "  The  Most  High  dwelleth  not 
in  temples  made  with  hands  5"  and  step- 
ping upon  a  grave,  said,  u  I  will  have  this 
grave  for  my  pulpit,  and  the  heavens  for 
my  sounding  board."  He  then  began  to 
preach  to  the  people,  and  although  the 
jxirson  and  several  others  went  away  dis- 
gusted, yet  many  of  those  who  tarried 
found  it  to  be  a  time  of  refreshing  to  their 
souls,  and  went  away  praising  God  for  the 
glorious  truths  they  had  heard, 


104 


THE    LIFE  OF 


3.  Notwithstanding  the  opposition,  the 
people  in  general  were  much  awakened, 
and  the  reformation  spread  in  different  di- 
rections. Many  were  hopefully  converg- 
ed. Elder  Randal  returned  to  Parker's 
Island,  and  to  his  unspeakable  joy,  found 
that  the  work  had  there  begun  to  spread 
rapidly  5  and  that  many  had  experienced 
delivering  grace.  The  Sabbath  fallowing* 
he  went  hack  to  Woolwich,  and  was  very 
unwell.  It  was  thought  by  some,  that  he 
wo  ild  not  live  5  but  the  Lord  rebuked  his 
complaint,  and  raised  him  up,  so  that  he 
preached  in  the  afternoon,  and  God  bles- 
sed his  labors.  Several  experienced  a 
change  of  heart  in  that  meeting.  At  the 
close  of  the  exercises,  he  w  ent  to  the  wa- 
fer* and  baptised  several  more ;  and  then 
r  irned  to  the  house,  and  embodied  a 
church.  After  giving  them  suitable  in- 
structions, with  respect  to  church  dis  :i- 
pline,  he  gave  them  the  parting  hand  for 
that  time.  I  must,  however,  remark  that 
this  visit  laid  the  foundation  of  what  is 
now  called  the  Edgcoinb  quarterly  meet- 
in  ;  for,  soon  after  this,  a  chur  h  was 
embodied  in  Georgetown,  and  another  in 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


10S 


Bdgcomb  in  the  same  region  ;  and,  not-, 
withstanding  the  numerous  trials  through 
which  they  have  passed  in  the  course  of 
their  spiritual  warfare,  and  the  vicissitudes 
experienced  by  others,  they  have  constant- 
ly maintained  their  profession,  and  kept 
up  the  worship  of  God,  and  have  from 
time  to  time,  heen  favored  with  revivals 
and  additions.  Elder  Randal  was  gon© 
from  home,  on  this  journey,  37  days  ;  trav- 
elled about  400  miles,  and  attended  47 
meetings. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

1.  Randal  visits  Qorham,  £?c. —  The  Con? 
nexion  much  increased — Monthly  meet- 
ings established — The  lihle  given  to 
each  as  their  only  book  of  discipline, 
2.  Modest  apparel  and  temperance 
recommended.  3.  The  church  in  Gor- 
ham  added-RandaP  s  wife/s father  dies^ 
4.  Loudon  and  Canterbury  churches? 
join  the  Shakers — Randal  is  called  to 
gather  the  scattering  members.  5.  He 
visits  the  church  in  Woolwich,  fyc. 
1.  Elder  Randal,  after  remaining  a 

short  time  with  his  family,  by  request  of 


106 


THE    LIFE  OF 


the  people,  visited  the  towns  of  Gorhaui 
and  Scarborough,  Me.  and  saw  much  of 
the  work  of  the  Lord  ;  especially  in  the 
latter.  He  says,  "  many  were  hopefully 
converted  and  baptised."  Nothing  seems 
more  astonishing,  than  the  rapid  increase 
of  this  infant  Connexion.  It  appears  by 
documents  written  by  Elder  Randal,  that 
in  the  short  term  of  18  months,  they  in- 
creased to  9  churches,  viz.,  1  in  New- 
Durham,  2  in  Bar  ring  ton,  1  in  P  arson  s- 
field,  1  in  Liitle  Falls,  1  in  Woolwich,  1 
in  Georgetown,  1  in  Little  River  planta- 
tation,  and  1  in  Gray  and  New- Glouces- 
ter. In  each  of  these  churches,  he  estab- 
lished a  monthly  meeting,  in  which  the 
members  all  met  to  relate  their  experience, 
and  give  and  receive  advice  from  each 
other. 

These  meetings  were  appointed  on  dif- 
ferent days,  and  so  arranged,  that  when  he 
^visited  the  churches,  he  could  convenient- 
ly attend  all  their  monthly  meetings  ;  and 
they,  if  they  pleased,  could  by  their  mes- 
sengers often  visit  each  other.  To  all  those 
churches,  he  also  gave  the  holy  scriptures 
n&  their  only  rule  of  faiih  and  practice, 


BE5TJAMIN  RANDAL. 


ioy 


and  strenuously  enjoined  it  on  them  to  use 
the  bible  as  their  only  book  of  discipline, 
telling  them  that  no  one  had  a  right  to 
make  laws  for  the  church,  but  Christ  him*- 
self,  and  the  apostles  who  w  ere  his  imme- 
diate followers,  and  were  baptised  with 
the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire,  and  inspk> 
ed  by  him  for  that  purpose. 

2.  He  labored  much  to  convince  hit 
brethren  and  sisters,  of  the  necessity  of 
coming  out  from  the  spirit  and  superfluous 
practices  of  the  world,  in  eating,  drinking 
and  dressing.  He  wished  them  to  be 
transformed  in  the  spirit  of  their  minds, 
and  comply  as  much  as  possible  with  the 
examples  of  Christ  and  his  apostles  in 
those  things.  He  himself  was  an  eminent 
example  to  the  flock.  I  have  heard  him 
say,  that  he  made  it  his  rale,  to  eat, 
drink  and  wear  such  things  as  he  could  in 
faith  ask  God  for,  and  give  thanks  when 
he  had  received  them.  In  his  dress,  he 
was  remarkably  neat,  but  suitably  plain 
In  eating  and  drinking,  he  was  very  tem- 
perate, and  in  sleeping,  he  was  particu- 
larly so.  I  travelled  with  him,  a  consider- 
able part  of  the  time  for  seven  years9 


i 


108 


THE    LIFE  0F 


and  his  general  rule  was,  to  sleep  abaut 
four  hoiirs  in  twenty  four.  The  rest  of 
the  time  he  spent  either  in  praying,  in 
reading,  or  in  preaching  the  word  5  or  in 
visiting  the  sick,  or  in  church  labors ;  or 
in  working  with  his  hands  for  the  support 
of  his  family.  He  never  seemingly  spent 
a  moment  idle.  He  considered  it  an 
abomination  for  a  professor  of  religion  to 
be  slovenly  or  sluttish.  He  often  remark- 
ed, that  "  Holiness  becomes  God's  house 
forever,9'  and  that  u  No  unclean  thing,  can 
enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ! "  He  also 
considered  it  a  great  sin,  for  a  brother  or 
sister  to  mispend  their  time.  He  thought 
that  a  slothful  or  lazy  man  or  woman,  was 
as  culpable  as  a  covetous  one,  and  as 
much  deserved  the  censure  of  the  church. 

S.  He  remarks  that  in  1782,  the  church 
of  Gorham  was  added  to  the  Connexion ; 
which,  he  says,  was  a  body  of  respectable 
members,  and  living  brethren.  He  fur- 
ther remarks,  that  in  the  first  part  of  the 
same  year,  he  was  deprived  of  travelling, 
by  reason  of  sickness  in  his  family.  His 
wife's  father,  Capt.  Robert  Oram,  who* 
lived  with  him,  after  a  distressing  illness 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


109 


of  about  five  months,  with  a  consumption 
and  dropsy,  closed  the  mortal  scene  on 
the  21st  of  July,  being  in  the  86th  year  of 
his  age.  Capt.  Oram  was  a  native  of 
England,  and  was  born  in  Topsham,  Feb. 
14th,  1897. 

4.  This  same  year,  the  then  large  and 
flourishing  church  in  Loudon  and  Canter- 
bury, N.  H.  with  a  very  few  exceptions, 
joined  with  the  people  called  Shakers, 
which  caused  great  trials  and  much  labor 
to  Elder  Randal.  For,  although  this 
church  was  considered  independent,  not 
of  Elder  Randal's  Connexion,  but  under 
the  special  charge  of  Elder  Edward  Lock, 
yet,  being  of  the  same  sentiments  with 
Elder  Randal,  when  this  awful  concussion 
took  place,  the  few  brethren  who  were 
not  carried  away  with  the  Shaker  delu- 
sions, but  maintained  their  first  principles^ 
readily  called  on  him  for  succor.  Though 
the  scene  was  to  him  exceedingly  trying, 
it  finally  resulted  in  a  more  universal 
spread  of  the  gospel,  and  opened  a  wider 
^oor  for  an  enlargement  of  the  new  Con- 
nexion. It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to 
observe,  that  the  Shakers  having  succeed- 
10 


110 


THE  LIFfc  01? 


ed  at  Loudon  and  Canterbury,  and  being 
reinforced  by  their  late  proselytes,  were 
much  emboldened,  and  endeavored,  by 
every  means  in  their  pewer,  to  propagate 
their  doctrines  and  discipline,  and  to  make 
proselytes  every  where  they  could. 

Randal  and  the  ministers  in  the  Con- 
nexion, at  the  same  time,  were  not  idle. 
They  exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost  to 
confute  them,  to  uncover  their  hypocrisies, 
and  to  undeceive  the  people.  What  seem- 
ed the  most  remarkable  was  a  fast,  which 
was  holden  by  the  new  Connexion  on 
the  13th  of  the  ensuing  October,  which 
was  proclaimed  in  their  general  epistle  in 
the  following  words :  "  Under  a  deep  and 
sorrowful  consideration  of  the  prevalence 
of  errors  of  every  kind,  in  this  our  day,  we 
agree  and  most  earnestly  recommend  to 
our  christian  friends,  to  keep  Wednesday^ 
the  13th  day  of  October  next,  as  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  to  almighty  God,  for 
Jesus  Christ's  sake,  that  he  would  scatter 
and  consume  this  smoke,  with  the  breath 
of  his  mouth  <md  brightness  of  his  appear ~j| 
ing,  and  unwind  satan  in  all  his  serpentine*^ 
schemes,  and  delusive  charms,  and  shortly 


BENJAMIN  SANDAL. 


ill 


bruise  him  under  us."  This  fast  was 
accordingly  kept  by  all  the  churches,  and 
the  Shakers  made  no  more  inroa*ds  upon 
them. 

5.  Elder  Randal  on  visiting  what  hb 
called  his  new  vineyard,  that  is,  the 
churches  in  Woolwich,  Georgetown  and 
Edgcomb,  Me.,  found  them  in  good  stand- 
ing, and  the  reformation  still  spreading. 
He  tarried  with  them  a  number  of  days, 
preached  several  times,  attended  several 
church  meetings,  and  assisted  them  in  set- 
ting apart  their  church  officer^.  In  Wool- 
wich, they  ordained  Ebenezer  Brookings 
to  the  office  of  Deacon,  and  Ebenezer 
Brookings,  Jim.  to  the  office  of  Ruling 
Elder.  They  also  appointed  John  Dun- 
ton  Ruling  Elder  at  Edgcomb,  and  Da- 
vid Oliver  Ruling  Elder  at  Georgetown. 
Elder  Randal  then  returned  home,  and 
spent  the  remaining  part  of  the  year  in 
preaching  the  word  from  place  to  place. 
He  says,  "  The  work  spread  blessedly 
through  all  the  eastern  country,55  (i.  e.) 
in  the  state  of  Maine. 


i\2 


THE   LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  XII. 

1.  The  scattered  brethren  in  Loudon  and 
Canterbury  send  for  help — Eld.  Ran- 
dal complains  of  false  brethren — Is 
eonfined  by  sickness,  but  happy  in 
mind,  2.  Is  in  indigent  circumstan- 
ces—  Works  hard  to  redeem  time  to 
preach.  3.  Randal  sent  to  Barring- 
ton.  4.  Goes  on  an  eastern  tour — ac- 
count of 

1.  In  Jan.  1788,  the  scattered  brethren 
in  Loudon,  being  in  great  distress  of  mind 
on  account  of  their  broken  situation,  sent 
a  very  pressing  and  affecting  letter  to  the 
church  of  New-Durham  for  help.  The 
brethren  sent  them  what  they  could,  and 
endeavored  to  assist  them  in  getting  into 
order. 

Elder  Randal,  however,  in  his  journal 
complains  of  false  and  disorderly  profes- 
sors, and  says,  that  the  beginning  of  this 
year  was  a  very  trying  season  to  him ; 
"  Glory  to  God,"  says  he,  u  I  was  carri  J 
ed  through  by  his  almighty  power*  I 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


113 


found  him  a  very  present  help -in  trouble." 
On  the  second  day  of  M^rch,  he  was  vio-, 
lently  seized  with  a  fever,  which  ran  so 
high,  that  his  life  was  despaired  of.  He 
was  confined  over  two  months,  and  be- 
came so  weak  that  he  could  not  lift  up  his 
head,  nor  turn  himself  in  bed  for  several 
weeks.  Yet,  he  says,  "through  the  whole 
illness,  I  enjoyed  a  heavenly  calm.  I 
found  my  faith  strong  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  felt  no  choice,  but  the  Lord's 
choice,  either  in  life  or  death.  I  laid 
basking  and  solacing  in  divine  consolation, 
and  felt  the  streams  of  heavenly  love  flow- 
sweetly  into  my  soul ;  so  that  I  never  felt 
one  restless  thought,  but  felt  all  my  af- 
fections taken  from  things  below,  and  set 
on  heavenly  things." 

2.  After  Elder  Randal  recovered  of  his 
sickness,  he  still  felt  a  great  desire  for  the 
salvation  of  souls.  "Although,"  s  ? ys 
he,  "  I  was  in  very  low  circumstances,  as 
to  temporal  things,  and  had  to  work  hard 
to  maintain  my  little  family,  yet  I  have 
very  often  worked  all  night,  to  redeem 
time  to  travel  and  preach  Jesus  to  poor 
sinners.    Glory  to  God  !  I  had  sweet  en? 


114 


THE   LIFE  OF 


couragenient  5  for  souls  were  brought  to 
rejoice  in  the  Lord  from  place  to  .place, 
where  I  travelled*" 

3.  The  church  which  had  been  embod* 
ied  in  Barring  ton,  by  Elder  Edward  Lock, 
with  respect  to  order  was  scattered  and 
broken  to  pieces,  when  he  joined  the  Sha- 
kers. They,  therefore,  in  their  trouble, 
applied  to  the  church  of  New-Durham  for 
help.  Accordingly,  the  church  answered 
their  request,  by  sending  Elder  Randal  to 
assist  them.  On  the  5th  of  July  he  re-em- 
bodied them,  and  received  them  into  con- 
nexion. 

4.  The  time  having  now  arrived  for  him 
to  commence  his  eastern  tour,  on  the  26th 
of  September  he  sat  off  and  visited  all  the 
churches,  which  had  been  gathered  by 
him,  and  the  ministers  of  the  Connexion, 
in  the  District  of  Maine.  He  attended  all 
their  monthly  meetings,  and  found  the 
brethren  steadfast  in  the  faith,  and  increas- 
ing in  numbers.  In  some  places  were 
large  additions.  He  found  love  and  un- 
ion generally  prevailing.  Being  deeply 
impressed  to  go  farther  east,  he  proceeded 
tg  Newcastle,  which  lies  ou  Daraariseottij 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL* 


115 


river.  In  this  place  the  spirit  of  convic- 
tion attended  the  preaching  of  the  word, 
and  a  reformation  took  place  among  the 
people.  From  thence,  he  crossed  over  to 
Bristol,  and  preached  to  the  inhabitants 
of  that  place.  Here  he  also  saw  the  fruits 
of  his  gospel  labors  in  the  conviction 
and  conversion  of  souls.  After  laboring 
a  short  season,  he  returned  homeward. 
On  his  way,  he  stopped  in  Brunswick,  at 
a  place  called  New-meadows.  On  the 
evening  of  his  arrival,  he  preached  a  ser- 
mon at  Maj.  Larrabee's,  and  there  ap-, 
peared  to  be  an  open  ear.  The  next  day, 
he  preached  at  the  meeting-house,  and 
the  minds  of  the  people  appeared  to  be 
much  impressed  with  a  sense  of  eternal 
things.  He  was  desired  to  stop  over  the 
Sabbath.  To  this  wish  of  the  people  he 
assented,  and  appointed  a  meeting  that 
evening  at  deacon  Isaac  Snow's.  The 
house  was  large  and  well  filled  with  peo- 
ple. The  power  of  the  Lord  was  present 
to  heal.  There  was  scarcely  one  in  the 
assembly  but  what  was  either  crying 
"  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  ;  * '  or 

*  What  mm  I  do  to  be  saved  VI  or 


116 


THE    LIFE-  OF 


praising  God  for  redeeming  love,  saying, 
u  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest  V  Sever- 
al of  the  mourners  experienced  delivering 
grace  before  the  next  morning.  This  was 
a  feast  to  Elder  Randal,  but  he  had  a 
mournful  fast  the  next  day  for  when  he 
came  to  the  meeting-house,  the  minister 
of  the  parish  met  him,  much  displeased, 
for  making  such  a  noise,  and  so  much  dis- 
turbance among  his  people,  and  said  he 
had  amazed  them.  He  would  neither  con* 
sent  to  let  the  Elder  preach,  nor  sit  with 
him  in  the  desk.  He  therefore  took  a  seat 
among  the  people,  and  heard  the  minister 
all  day.  This,  however,  was  a  dry  time 
to  Randal ;  and  the  people  were  much- 
disgusted  at  the  conduct  of  their  minister 
toward  the  stranger.  Had  he  delivered 
ever  so  good  words,  they  w  ould  have  found 
no  place  in  the  hearts  of  his  parishioners ; 
for  they  could  view  him  in  no  other  light, 
than  an  open  enemy  to  pure  and  undefiled 
religion.  Indeed  they  all  had  a  dry  time.- 
In  the  evening,  Elder  Randal  preached 
again  at  deacon  Snow's.  The  house  was 
so  filled  with  people  that  there  was  n@' 
room  for  seats.  When  the  exercise  began^ 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


117 


the  power  of  God  so  fell  on  the  congrega- 
gation,  that  all  appeared  to  be  affected, 
and  were  either  crying  for  mercy,  or  prais- 
ing God  with  loud  voices,  and  the  minis- 
ter, being  present,  was  also  affected,  and 
cried  out  among  the  rest.  The  exercises 
continued  till  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  To  crown  the  solemnity  of  this 
memorable  scene,  he  mentions  an  instance 
which  he  considered  an  incontestable  proof 
of  the  work  and  power  of  God  at  the  time. 
He  says,  "  There  was  a  man  there  who 
was  born  deaf  and  dumb,  who  was  then 
more  than  forty  years  old,  that  was  struck 
under  conviction  the  preceding  evening. 
At  this  meeting  he  was  in  great  distress, 
and,  by  signs,  gave  as  clear  an  account  of 
his  wretched  state  as  any  one  present ; 
and  when  he  received  the  remission  of  his 
sins,  and  felt  the  pardoning  love  of  God, 
he  in  the  same  manner,  gave  as  clear  an 
evidence  of  his  change,  as  could  be  ra- 
tionally desired  of  any  one."  Elder  Ran- 
dal mentions  the  above,  as  an  evidence  of 
the  inward  teachings  of  the  Spirit,  which 
leads  into  all  truth,  that  tells  men  all 
things,  and  brings  them  to  their  rem  em- 


118 


THE    LIFE  QE] 


brance  5  and  translates  the  soul  tmm 
bondage  into  the  liberty  of  the  sons  of 
God. 

After  he  had  finished  his  visit  in  this 
town,  he  went  to  Harpswell,  and  was 
kindly  received.  He  preached  every 
day,  for  several  days,  in  their  meeting- 
house. His  preaching  was  attended  with 
great  success.  A  reformation  began, 
which  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  quite 
a  number,  who  were  baptised  before  he  left 
the  place.  He  now  shaped  his  course 
for  home,  preaching  from  place  to  place 
as  he  travelled,  and  says  that  in  all  places 
where  he  preached,  he  saw  the  displays 
of  ImmanuePs  power.  On  his  way  home 
he  attended  a  convention  at  Little  Falls, 
for  the  purpose  of  drafting  a  plan  for  quar- 
terly meetings,  to  be  holden  in  future  in 
the  Connexion.  The  first  was  appointed 
to  be  holden  at  the  same  place  on  the  firsts 
Saturday  of  the  ensuing  December.  He, 
was  absent  from  home  on  the  above  jour- 
ney,  57  days  ;  travelled  about  500  miles, 
and  attended  61  meetings. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


119 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

1.  Elder  Randal  attends  the  first  Q.  M. 
—  Their  agreement — Returns,  and  is 
taken  sick — Recoils — Attends  the  Q. 
M.  %n  March,  June  and  September. 
2.  Goes  to  Crownpoint — Ordains  Jo- 
seph Boody — Attends  Q.  M.  at  Edg* 
comb— Ordains  John  Whitney — Attends 
Q.  M.  at  Gorham.  3.  Some  trials  in 
New-Durham  church — Attends  Q.  M. 
at  New- Gloucester  and  Kennebeck.  4. 
Revival  at  New-Burham-Naih  an  Mer- 
rill and  James  M'  Corson  ordained. 

Elder  Randal  after  continuing  a  short 
time  with  his  family,  returned  to  Little 
Falls,  and  attended  the  first  quarterly 
meeting  ever  held  in  the  Connexion.  This 
meeting  was  held  Dec.  6,  1783,  They 
then  entered  into  a  mutual  agreement  to 
hold  four  such  meetings  every  year.  At 
Little  Falls,  the  first  Saturday  in  De- 
cember ;  at  New- Gloucester,  the  first 
Saturday  in  March,  and  the  first  Satur- 
urday  in  June ;  at  Woolwich,  the  first 
Saturday  in  September,,  until  the  Con- 


120 


THE   LIFE  OF 


nexion  should  judge  it  necessary  to  alter 
the  arrangement.  After  returning  from 
the  above  meeting,  Elder  Randal  was  ta- 
ken sick,  and  was  confined  for  several 
weeks.  He,  however,  recovered  his  health 
so  far  as  to  be  able  to  attend  the  quarter- 
ly meeting  at  New-Gloucester,  in  March. 
At  this  meeting  he  enjoyed  much  conso- 
lation. He  says,  "  It  was  a  most  marvel- 
lous and  wonderful  meeting.  Sinners 
were  awakened,  and  saints  rejoiced  in 
God."  After  mentioning  some  sore  tri- 
als, which  he  endured  on  account  of  some 
disorderly  members  in  the  church  at  New- 
Durham  that  year,  he  says  that  many 
souls  were  added  to  the  Lord  the  ensuing 
summer.  He  attended  all  the  quarterly 
meetings  through  the  year  ;  visited  all 
parts  of  the  Connexion,  and  to  his  un- 
speakable joy,  found  the  brethren  much 
engaged,  and  great  additions  to  the 
churches.  It  appears,  by  his  journal, 
that  in  1784,  he  travelled  over  a  thousand 
miles  on  journeys  in  the  cause  of  truth  $ 
and  attended  above  three  hundred  meet- 
ings of  worship,  besides  many  meetings 
of  church  business. 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  12k 

5.  In  the  year  1785,  after  attending 
much  church  Jabor  in  New-Durham,  he 
visited  the  church  in  Barrington,  at  Crown 
Point,  and  assisted  them  in  regulating 
their  affairs.  He  attended  the  quarter- 
ly meeting,  holden  at  New-Durham,  in 
June;  and  after  attending  to  his  usual 
ministerial  labors  among  his  flock,  and 
the  cares  of  his  family  at  home,  on  the 
22d  of  August,  he  went  again  to  Barring- 
ton  and  assisted  in  ordaining  Joseph  Boo- 
dy,  senior,  to  the  office  of  Biding  Elder. 
He  then  went  east,  and  attended  the  quar- 
terly meeting  at  Edgcomb.  On  the  7th 
of  September,  he  assisted  in  the  ordina- 
tion of  John  Whitney  to  the  office  of 
Teaching  Elder.  This,  he  says,  "  Was 
a  most  marvellous  day  of  the  power  and 
love  of  God,  on  ac  count  of  the  rejoicing  of 
saints,  and  mourning  of  sinners."  Elder 
Whitney  proved  to  be  a  very  humble  and 
useful  minister ;  his  labors  were  remark- 
ably blest,  in  winning  souls  to  Christ. 
He  endured  hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of 
Jesus -Christ,  and  continued  to  the  end.  I 
think  he  was  in  the  ministry  over  thirty 
years,  and  died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith. 
11 


122 


THE   LIFE  OP 


Elder  Randal,  after  attending  the  above 
meeting,  went  further  eastward,  and  then 
returned  home,  having  been  gone  45  days, 
travelled  490  miles,  and  attended  58  meet- 
ings. After  continuing  about  home  a 
short  time  and  laboring  as  usual,  he  set 
off,  with  his  usual  courage,  to  attend  the 
December  quarterly  meeting,  which,  by 
mutual  consent,  was  removed  from  Little 
falls  to  Gorham;  that  place  being  more 
central.  He  closes  the  narrative  of  this 
year,  by  saying,  u  I  have  travelled  this 
year  above  1200  miles  in  the  service  of 
truth,  and  have  attended  above  300  meet- 
ings. My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord, 
and  give  glory  to  his  great  name." 

3.  In  the  beginning  of  1786,  he  experi- 
enced some  severe  trials  in  the  church  at 
New-Durham,  on  account  of  the  disor- 
derly walk  of  some  of  the  members  ;  sev- 
eral of  whom  were  laid  under  admonition, 
for  immoral  conduct ;  but  says  he,  "Eies- 
sed  be  the  Lord,  I  did  not  feel  in  the  least 
dis;  fours  ged ;  but  felt  resolutely  deter- 
mined, by  grace,  to  persevere and 
adds,  "  1  have  ever  found  the  service  of 
the  Lord  sweet,  and  his  reward  better 


Benjamin  randal. 


123 


than  silver,  and  his  revenue  than  choice 
gold."  No  heart  ever  appeared  to  be 
more  susceptible  of  joy  or  grief  than  his, . 
When  a  revival  took  place,  and  souls  ex- 
perienced God's  grace,  his  harp  was  al- 
ways in  tune.  He  was  ready  to  join  with 
angels,  and  rejoice  over  the  repenting 
sinner  5  and  nothing  seemed  too  much  for 
him  to  do  for  their  encouragement,  and 
for  the  promotion  of  the  cause.  If  a  de^ 
clension  took  place,  he  was  as  ready  to 
mourn,  and  to  spend  and  be  spent,  and 
use  every  endeavor  to  reclaim  them  5  but 
if  after  all,  they  remained  refractory,  he 
would  withdraw  his  fellowship,  and  turn 
his  back  upon  them,  and  pursue  the  nar- 
row way. 

Feb.  10th,  Mrs.  Oram,  his  wife's  moth- 
er, died  ;  and  after  attending  the  funeral, 
and  getting  things  regulated  at  home,  he 
visited  the  churches  in  the  westerly  part 
of  Maine,  and  attended  the  quarterly 
meeting  in  New-Gloucester.  He  found 
the  church  in  that  place  very  low,  which 
caused  him  grief ;  but  he  was  much  com- 
forted by  the  reports  from  other  church- 
es: 


THE   LIFE  OF 


He  then  returned  and  attended  the  quar- 
terly meeting  in  New-Durham,  in  June ; 
and  was  again  much  encouraged  by  re- 
freshing accounts  brought  from  different 
parts  of  the  Connexion.  After  this,  he 
visited  Newcastle,  the  place  of  his  nativi- 
ty, and  found  the  brethren  well  engaged, 
and  had  a  refreshing  season  with  them, 
both  in  preaching  and  communion.  In 
August,  following,  he  took  another  jour- 
ney east,  attended  the  quarterly  meeting 
in  Edgcomb,  and  visited  the  churches  in 
that  region,  especially  those  situate  on 
the  Island  near  the  mouth  of  Kennebec 
river,  and  further  east.  He  observes 
that  he  found  the  brethren  well  engaged, 
and  that  multitudes  flocked  to  hear  the 
word.  He  says,  "I  found  great  freedom 
in  preaching — the  truth  prevailed,  and  the 
people  through  all  that  country  appeared 
to  be  awakened.  The  Calvinistic  vail 
which  had  been  so  long  over  their  hearts, 
seemed  to  be  rent  in  twain  from  the  top 
to  the  bottom,  and  the  people  were  ena- 
bled to  look  into  the  perfect  law  of  liber- 
ty.55 He  closes  the  narrative  of  this  jour- 
ney, in  about  the  following  words,  "  Glo- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


125 


ry  !  Everlasting  glory  be  to  God  !  O 
Lord  Jesus,  thou  conquering  King,  ride 
on  from  conquering  and  to  conquer.  0$ 
sink  the  whore  of  Babylon,  like  a  mill- 
stone. O  consume  error,  by  the  bright- 
ness of  thine  appearing."  He  travelled 
in  this  journey  about  500  miles,  and  at- 
tended 60  public  meetings. 

4>.  About  the  beginning  of  1787,  a  revi- 
val took  place  in  New-Durham,  which 
was  much  to  his  consolation ;  but  he  was 
taken  unwell,  and  was  so  indisposed,  that 
he  was  unable  to  attend  the  quarterly 
meeting  in  March.  It  appears,  by  his- 
journal,  that  he  spent  the  greater  part  of 
the  ensuing  summer  in  New-Durham,  and 
its  vicinity. 

On  the  2d  of  the  ensuing  October,  he 
assisted  in  ordaining  Nathan  Merrill  of 
Gray,  Me.  to  the  office  of  Teaching  El- 
der-y  and  on  the  4th  of  December  follow- 
ing, he  assisted .  in  ordaining  James  Mer 
CQrson  of  Gorham  to  the  same  office. 
11* 


126 


THE   LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

1.  Randal  visits  the  churches — Attends 
the  Q.  M's.,  fyc.  2.  Randal  is  oppos- 
ed—  Q.  M.  removed  from  JY.  Glouces- 
ter to  Parsonsjield — Revival  in  Par- 
sonsjield — Randal9 s  labors  and  consti- 
tution. 3.  Great  declension  in  JYetv- 
Durham — Randal  is  sick — Buries  his 
father — Preaches  his  funeral  sermon. 

1.  In  the  year  1788,  after  taking  a  short 
journey  to  the  west,  and  making  proper 
arrangements  at  home,  Elder  Randal  de- 
voted his  time,  as  usual,  to  the  preaching 
of  the  word,  and  visiting  the  churches. 
In  the  course  of  the  year,  he  visited  nearly 
all  the  churches  in  the  Connexion.  He 
also  attended  all  the  quarterly  meetings, 
excepting  that  in  March,  holden  in  New- 
Gloucester,  and  mentions  that  great  revi- 
vals took  place  that  year.  He  says, 
u  The  messengers  came  to  the  quarterly 
meetings,  as  Noah's  dove  came  to  the 
ark,  with  the  olive  leaf  in  their  mouths.' > 
The  same  year,  there  was  a  church  em* 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  127 

bodied  at  Canaan,  and  one  at  Bristol,  and 
another  at  Seguntercook,  Me. 

2.  He  mentions  that  he  was  much  op- 
posed by  some  rigid  Calvinists,  but  they 
generally  gave  back.  He  likewise  re- 
marks, that  by  a  vote  of  the  quarterly 
meeting,  the  March  term  was  removed 
from  New- Gloucester  to  Parsonsfield,  Me, 

They  held  their  first  quarterly  meeting 
in  Parsonsfield,  March,  1 789.  This  meet- 
ing was  attended  with  a  remarkable  bles- 
sing. It  resulted  in  a  glorious  revival. 
Elder  Randal  was  present,  and  preached 
two  sermons  5  the  first,  from  Eph.  iv.  30, 
and  the  second,  from  Heb.  x.  3.  He  says, 
"The  power  of  the  Lord  was  wonderfully 
displayed  in  the  convi  tion  and  conversion 
of  souls.  Perhaps  nothing  ever  exceeded 
it  in  these  latter  days.  A  great  number 
were  pricked  in  their  hearts,  and  cried 
like  one  anciently,  "What  mast  I  do  to 
be  saved  ?"  While  the  saints,  unable  to 
contain  their  joys,  broke  forth  in  accla- 
mations of  praise  to  God,  for  redeeming 
love  and  saving  grace. 

He  attended  all  the  quarterly  meetings 
in  the  course  of  the  year.,  but  he  mentions 


12$ 


THE    LIFE  OF 


nothing  very  special,  excepting  that  they 
altered  the  time,  of  holding  the  Gorham 
quarterly  meeting,  from  December,  to 
November,  and  that  they  had  considerable 
addition  to  the  Connexion. 

The  writer,  however,  presumes  that  the 
attending  of  those  general  meetings,  and 
performing  those  lengthy  and  circuitous 
journeys,  which  Elder  Randal  annually 
performed,  was  not  more  than  one  third 
part  of  his  labors.  The  other  two  thirds 
were  devoted  to  preaching  in  his  own 
town,  attending  church  meetings,  visiting 
the  sick,*  attending  funerals,  &c.  If  he 
was  not  specially  called  to  ministerial  la- 
bors, he  was  always  acting  the  part  of  a 
husband  and  parent,  in  providing  for  his 
household.  No  husband  was  more  be- 
nevolent, no  father  was  more  affectionate 
than  he.  The  stranger  who  reads  the 
above  sketches  will  naturally  conclude^ 
that  Elder  Randal  must  have  been  a  man 
of  remarkable  strength,  of  a  robust  con- 
stitution, and  of  a  very  strong  and  fruitful 
mind.  The  latter  he  certainly  posses- 
sed ;  but  how  surprised  he  must  be,  when 
he  is  told,  by  one  who  was  familiarly  ac- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


129 


quaint ed  with  him,  that  he  was  a  man  lit- 
tle of  stature,  of  a  very  slender  body,  and 
of  a  delicate  constitution,  and  subject  to 
pulmonary  complaints.  He  was  seldom 
entirely  free  from  oppressed  lungs,  and  a 
hacking  cough.  Yet  he  generally  drove 
through  all  weathers  to  attend  his  appoint- 
ments, without  consulting  either  his  own 
ease  or  health.  When  any  one  asked 
him  why  he  thus  exposed  himself,  he 
used  to  answer,  "  Because  I  love. heaven  ; 
and  if  I  cannot  get  there,  I  want  to  get 
as  nigh  to  it  as  I  can ;  and,  therefore,  I 
always  try  to  get  to  meeting."  He  con- 
sidered a  meeting  of  saints,  to  be  a  pre- 
lude of  immortal  glory  5  and  often  at 
those  interviews  would  repeat  and  sing 
the  folio  wing  lines  ; 

"  Lord,  what  a  heaven  of  saving  grace, 
Shines  through  the  beauties  of  thy  face/'  &c. 

3.  The  year  1790  was  a  season  of 
great  trials  to  Elder  Randal.  A  very 
great  declension  took  place  in  the  church 
of  New-Durham.  Many  departed  from 
the  truth,  and  he  was  almost  at  his  wit's 
end,  to  know  what  to  do,  and  how  to  pro- 
ceed.   He  says,  "  T  continually  cried  to 


130 


THE    LIFE  OF 


the  Lord  for  a  revival  of  religion. ' 5  He 
attended  the  quarterly  meeting  at  Par- 
sousneld,  in  hopes  to  get  some  strength 
there;  but  the  travelling  being  very  diffi- 
cult, n  few  only  attended,  and  those  few 
brought  news  of  declension  in  the  church- 
es to  which  they  belonged.  This  added 
much  to  his  trials,  and  he  returned  with  a 
heavy  heart.  Still,  to  increase  his  afflic- 
tion, in  the  month  of  May,  he  was  violent- 
ly seized  with  the  Influenza,  a  distres- 
sing disorder,  which  was  then  prevailing 
through  the  country,  and  he  was  brought 
very  low,  and  remained  very  weak,  till 
after  the  quarterly  meeting  in  June. 

To  close  the  afflictive  scene,  before  he 
quite  recovered,  on  the  21st  of  June,  a 
messenger  came  to  inform  him  that  his  fa- 
ther was  nigh  unto  death,  with  the  same 
disorder,  and  desired  to  see  him  before  he 
died.  He,  therefore,  sat  off,  weak  as  he 
was,  and  arrived  at  Ossipee,  where  his 
father  lived,  a  distance  of  about  22  miles, 
about  sunset  ;  but  to  his  great  grief 
found  his  father  speechless.  He  died 
about  nine  o'clock  the  same  evening. 
The  next  day,  the  Elder  took  his  remains; 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


131 


on  a  horse-bier,  and  conveyed  them  to  his 
own  house  at  New-Durham.  The  day 
following,  June  24>th,  the  funeral  solemni- 
ties were  attended.  The  Elder  himself 
delivered  a  sermon  on  the  occasion,  from 
Ps.  xxxvii.  37.  uMark  the  perfect  man, 
and  behold  the  upright  ;  for  the  end  of 
that  man  is  peaccS3  He  was  wonderful- 
ly assisted  and  supported  through  the 
whole  scene.  A  large  number  of  rela- 
tives and  friends  attended,  and  the  remains 
were  deposited  in  his  awn  burying  ground, 
which  he  had  previously  selected  for  the 
interment  of  himself  and  family.  He, 
however,  remained  very  weak  in  body 
through  the  summer,  but  was  strong  in 
faith  giving  glory  to  God. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
1.  Eld.  Randal  attends  the  Q,  M*s  at 
Edgcomb  and  Gorham.    2.   The  de- 
clension in  New-Durham     '0  os  i^orse. 

3.  The  living  members  coveto  ni  anew. 

4.  The  covenant.    5.  The  inhabitants 
are  alarmed,  and  a  revival  succeeds* 
1.  In  August,  1790,  Elder  Randal  sat 

Gut  on  another  eastern  tour,  and  attended 


132 


THE    LIFE  OF 


the  quarterly  meeting  hoi  den  in  Septem- 
ber at  Edgcomb.  He  visited  about  all 
the  churches  in  that  region,  and,  notwith- 
standing he  was  still  in  a  low  state  of 
health,  he  enjoyed  the  Divine  presence, 
and  found  the  journey  profitable.  He 
likewise  attended  the  quarterly  meeting 
at  Gorham  in  November,  and  visited  the 
churches  in  that  vicinity  ;  after  which,  he 
returned  home,  being  comfortable  both  in 
body  and  mind.  He  closed  the  year  with 
his  family,  and  in  gospel  labors  in  his  own 
town. 

2.  In  the  year  1791,  he  passed  the  win- 
ter in  great  trials.  The  declension  in  the 
church  of  New-Durham  still  continued, 
and  was  daily  increasing,  and  growing 
worse  and  worse,  Q,uite  a  majority  of 
the  members  had  become  so  luke-warm 
and  indifferent  about  the  duties  of  religion, 
that  they  wholly  neglected  their  church 
meetings ;  and  many  of  them  had  so  back- 
slidden, that  they  had  become  a  public 
reproach  to  the  cause.  The  ways  of 
Zion  mourned  indeed  !  but  few  came  to 
her  solemn  feasts.  Elder  Randal  now 
wept  between  the  porch  and  the  altar, 

# 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


133 


saying,  "  Spare  thy  people,  O  Lord,  and 
give  not  thy  heritage  to  reproach."  He 
laborednight  and  day  to  reclaim  them, 
hut  al*m)st  in  vain.  He  asked  the  Lord 
for  wisdom  to  direct  him.  At  length,  he 
went  round  and  visited  the  living  mem- 
bers, and  conversed  with  them  on  the 
subject.  They  finally  concluded  that  it 
would  be  best  to  re-embody,  and  to  re* 
ceive  none  into  fellowship,  only  such  as 
were  willing  to  take  the  Bible  as  their  ar- 
ticles of  faith,  and  book  of  discipline,  and 
to  walk  by  that  rule.  Accordingly,  on 
the  13th  of  April  they  met  for  the  above 
purpose.  After  much  conversation  on  the 
necessity  of  coming  out  from  the  spirit 
and  practices  of  this  wicked  world,  and  of 
living  up  to  the  rule  given  by  Christ,  they 
unitedly  arose  and  gave  each  other  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship,  publicly  declar- 
ing that  they  came  out  from  all  disorderly 
walkers,  and  that  those  professors  who 
were  disorderly  were  no  more  of  them. 
They  then  subscribed  to  the  following  cov- 
enant. 

"  We  whose  names  are  under  written, 
having   fellowship  with  each  other,  as 
12 


134 


THE   LIFE  OF 


brethren  of  one  family,  and  children  of 
one  Father,  do  now,  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  and  in  the  fear  of  God,  covenant 
together;  and  promise  to  walk  together 
in  the  ordinances  and  commandments  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  we  do  or  shall 
understand  them.  We  also  agree  to  take 
the  scriptures  of  truth,  for  the  rule  of  our 
duty  towards  God,  our  neighbor,  and  our- 
selves ;  for  the  rule  of  our  conversation 
and  business.  If  any  of  us  shall  be  con- 
victed of  not  walking  according  thereto, 
or  of  violating  the  same,  such  shall  be 
deemed  transgressors,  and  be  dealt  with 
as  the  aforesaid  rule  directs.  Amen.5'* 

5.  This  being  done,  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  were  much  alarmed.  Much 
was  said  for  and  against  the  procedure. 
Some  were  of  opinion  that  Elder  Randal 
had  done  exactly  right  5  others  thought 
he  had  done  wrong,  and  concluded  that 
the  Connexion  would  all  fall  to  pieces. 

*  Notwithstanding  this  new  embodying  resulted  in  a  very 
glorious  revival,  the  writer  is  of  opinion,  that  it  would  have 
been  better  for  the  brethren  to  have  stood  by  their  first  cove- 
nant ;  and  used  timely  labor  with  transgressing  members,  ac- 
cording to  scripture  rules.  He  thinks  they  would  have  expe- 
rienced, an  equivalent  blessing. 


It  however  to rmin ated  in  a  very  glorious-" 
revival.  Elder  Randal  felt  in  his  mind* 
some  measure  freed  from  the  embarrass- 
ment under  which  he  had  long  labored, 
and  commenced  preaching  wich fr.esh.cauj:* 
age  :  and  the  attention  of  the  people  being 
called  up,  many  attended  his  meetings, 
and  heard  with  candor.  On  the  Sth  of 
Slay,  he  held  a  meeting  in  New-Durhanij 
and  while  he  was  preaching  the  Lord 
blessed  the  word  .-to.  the  conviction  of  ma- 
ny. The  next  day  he  preached  with  still 
greater  success.  "As  many  as  fifty  per- 
sons,- says  he,  "-were  deeply  affected; 
many  were  vocally  crying  for  mercy,  while 
others  were  praising  God  for  redeeming 
love.  From  this  time  the  work  began  to 
spread  in  different  directions  in  a  very 
rapid  manner.  Meetings  were  held  most 
every  day,  and  sometimes  every  evening. 
People  gathered  from  all  quarters  to  hear 
the  word,  to  see  the  converts,  and  hear 
them  praise  the  Lord.  New  cases  of 
conviction  and  conversion  daily  occurred, 
which  afforded  new  subjects  of  wonder 
and  astonishment.  The  most  haughty 
*vere humbled,  and  the  lowly  were  exalted. 


136 


THE    LIFE  OF 


Ik* 


A  short  specimen  of  Elder  Randall 
daily  account,  will  furnish  the  reader  with 
some  idea  of  the  progress  of  this  glorious 
work.  June  8th,  he  baptized  two  ;  name- 
ly, John  Buzzellj*  and  Simon  Pottle. 
June  10th,  he  baptized  two.  June  1 1th, 
he  baptized  one.  June  13th,  he  baptized 
seven.  June  14th,  he  baptized  five.  Juno 
16th,  he  baptized  one.  August  4th,  he 
baptized  three.  Thus  the  work  continu- 
ed to  go  on,  and  in  about  three  months 
sixty  seven  were  added  to  the  church.  In 
the  course  of  the  same  time  he  preached 
at  Harrington  with  great  success,  ^ind 
baptized  a  number  there.  He  also  per- 
formed  his  usual  tours*to  the  east ;  and 
the  same  fall,  in  company  with  others,  em- 
bodied a  church  in  Waterborough,  Me. 
at  a  place  called  Ossipee  Hill. 


*  The  authctr  of  this  work 


I 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


137 


CHAPTER  XVI, 

I.  JMew  Year's  Sermon — Randal  visits 
the  churches  in  Piltsfield  and  Barring- 
ton — P reaches )  $c.  at  Middleton.  2. 
Makes  a  new  arrangement  of  meetings 
—form  of.  3.  First  Y.  M.  4.  Randal 
Buzz  ell  visit  Vermont.  5.  Randal 
attends  Q.  M.  at  Barnsiead,  and  Y.  M. 
at  Edgcom^^  6.  John  Buzzell  and 
Isaac  TowWmd  ordained. 

4}  Jan.  1st,  1792,  Elder  Randal  preach- 
ed at  .New- Durham,  from  Ezra  vii.  9. 
"  Upon  Vae  first  day  of  the  first  month* 
began  he  to  go  tip  from  Babylon."  His 
remarks  on  the  subject  were  attended 
with  astonishing  effect.  The  saints  were 
much  edified,  and  sinners  much  awaken- 
ed. Several  manifested  a  desire  to  go  up 
from  the  spiritual  Babylon,  and  to  com- 
mence their  pilgrimage  for  the  heavenly 
Canaan,  on  that  first  day  of  the  first 
month.  Elder  Randal  then  continued 
preaching  in  New-Durham,  till  the  first 
of  March.  He  then  visited  the  churches 
12* 


138 


THE   LIFE  OF 


in  Pittsfield  and  Barrington  ;  and  Iron* 
thenee  returned.  In  April  he  went  to 
Middletan,  preached  several  times,  and 
baptized  six.  This  was  a  time  of  refresh* 
ing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  It  was 
the  first  time  that  baptism  was  performed 
by  immersion  in  that  town.  A  multitude 
attended,  though  but  a  very  few  who  ever 
before  saw  baptism  administered. 

2.  About  this  time  Elder  Randal 
viewing  the  extensiveness  of  the  Connex- 
ion,  and  the  necessity  of  establishing  and 
perpetuating  their  union,  drew  a  plan,  and 
recommended  a  new  arrangement  of  meet- 
ings, which  he  considered  conducive  to 
that  end ;  viz.  Monthly,  Quarterly,  and 
Yearly  meetings.  Monthly  and  quarter* 
ly  meetings  had  been  already  established 
as  the  reader  has  seen.  He  recommend- 
ed that  the  quarterly  meetings  then  estab- 
lished, should  be  considered  a  yearly 
meeting,  holden  four  times  a  year ;  and 
that  the  doings  of  those  sessions  of  the 
yearly  meeting  should  be  duly  recorded 
in  the  old  quarterly  meeting  record,  by  a 
standing  clerk,  to  be  chosen  for  that  pur* 
pose  5  and  that  iWvv  quarterly  meetings 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


139 


should  be  established  in  different  parts  of 
the  Connexion ;  to  be  hold  en  at  stated 
times,  between  the  monthly  and  yearly 
meetings,  so  that  the  churches,  from  their 
monthly  meetings,  might  by  their  mes- 
sengers and  minutes,  be  represented  in  the 
quarterly  meetings ;  and  the  quarterly 
meetings,  by  their  messengers,  and  min- 
utes, or  letter,  be  represented  in  the  year- 
ly meeting,  so  that  the  state  of  the  whole 
Connexion  might  be  known,  at  least,  four 
times  a  year.  This  arrangement  was  adop- 
ted by  all  the  churches,  and  although  in 
process  of  time  there  seemed  to  be  an  im- 
perfection in  the  system,*  at  the  time  it  was 
adopted  it  was  attended  with  the  best  of 
consequences,  for  the  meetings  were  so  ar* 
ranged  as  to  keep  the  ministers  almost  con- 
tinually travelling,  and  spreading  the  news 
of  free  salvation,  and  accounts  of  the  won- 
derful works  of  God  from  one  extreme  of 


*  The  imperfection  to  which  the  writer  refers,  is  that  of 
holding  a  yearly  meeting  four  times  a  year,  and  yet  having 
but  one  record,  and  calling  it  but  one  yearly  meeting.  That 
difficulty  is  now  removed  by  considering  each  session  a 
yearly  meeting,  and  adding  an  annual  conference  to  the 
above  system,  the  clerk  of  which  is  to  hold  the  old  yearly 
jfteeting  record^ 


140 


THE   LIFE  OF 


the  Connexion  to  the  other.  These  meet- 
ings^ also,  called  the  attention  of  thou- 
sands to  hear  the  word  of  God,  who  per- 
haps would  have  remained  ignorant  of 
those  things  if  their  attention  had  not 
been  excited  by  these  means.  I  have 
known  persons  of  respectability  to  travel 
nearly  twenty  miles  to  attend  a  monthly 
meeting  ;  and  have  seen  as  many  as  a 
hundred  spectators  to  a  church  confer- 
ence, when  the  church  consisted  of  only 
ten  members.  At  quarterly  meetings,  I 
have  often  seen  thousands  flocking  from 
different  parts  to  hear  the  word  ;  and 
when  we  have  been  under  the  necessity 
of  repairing  to  groves  for  the  want  of 
room,  I  have  frequently  seen  them  even 
climb  the  trees,  like  Zacheus,  to  see  and 
hear,  and  as  I  may  say,  hazard  their 
lives  for  the  sake  of  information  ;  yet  T 
never  knew  any  person  receive  any  harm 
on  these  occasions.  But  many  who  have 
attended  these  meetings,  and  have  come 
to  them  in  a  state  of  nature,  have  return- 
ed new  creatures,  praising  God  for  re- 
deeming love,  and  saving  grace.  The 
yearly  meetings  have  also  been  attend- 


BENJAMIN    RANDAL.  HI 

ed  with  an  equivalent  blessing.  Hundreds 
of  souls,  that  now  belong  to  this  and 
other  denominations,  have  dated  their  ex- 
perience in  our  monthly,  quarterly,  and 
yearly  meetings. 

3.  The  first  yearly  meeting  was  holden 
at  New-Durham.  It  commenced  June 
9th,  1792,  and  continued  three  days.  It 
was  a  time  that  will  be  long  remembered 
by  those  who  witnessed  the  scene.  The 
reformation  still  continued.  The  hands 
of  the  ministers  were  strengthened  by  the 
prayers  of  their  brethren.  They  preached 
the  gospel  in  its  simplicity — saints  rejoic- 
ed, and  sinners  trembled.  They  receiv- 
ed refreshing  tidings  from  the  churches 
through  the  medium  of  the  several  newly- 
established  quarterly  meetings.  Eld.  Ran- 
dal seemed  like  one  on  the  wing  for  glo- 
ry. He  was  now  confirmed  in  the  belief, 
that  his  new  arrangement  would  termi- 
nate in  the  enlargement  of  the  Connexion, 
and  increase  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 
The  day  following  the  yearly  meeting  he 
baptized  five. 

4.  July  25th,  he  sat  out  in  company 
with  John  Buzzell  for  the  state  of  Ver- 


142 


THE   LITE  OF 


mont,  in  answer  to  a  request  made  by  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Strafford,  in  t  he  county  of  Orange.  After 
arriving  at  the  place,  Elder  Randal 
preached  the  word,  and  was  well  received; 
He  also  baptized  two,  (the  rest  having 
been  baptized  before,  by  ministers  of  Cal* 
vinistic  sentiments,)  he  with  others^  at 
their  request,  embodied  a  church  $  but 
the  members  were  of  mixed  sentiments  f 
viz.  part  were  of  general  sentiments,  like 
himself,  and  part  were  of  Calvinistic  sen^ 
timents  ;  they  all  loved  each  other  then, 
and  chose  to  be  embodied  together;  but, 
finally,  could  not  walk  together  because 
they  were  not  agreed.  Elder  Randal^ 
however,  enjoyed  great  freedom  in  preach- 
ing the  word,  through  the  whole  journey; 
On  his  return,  he  preached  in  Salisbury, 
N.  H.  to  good  effect.  A  revival  began 
under  his  preaching,  which  resulted  in  a 
very  glorious  reformation  ;  but  as  he  im- 
mediately left  the  place,  the  converts 
were  baptized  by  a  minister  of  another 
denomination.  This  journey  was  at- 
tended with  some  expenee,  and  a  great 
deal  of  fatigue,  both  to  him  and  his  young 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


companion.  They  (ravelled  the  whole 
route,  about  300  miles,  on  horse  back, 
and  a  great  part  of  the  way  through  the 
wilderness,  and  very  rough  travelling. — 
And  the  weather  being  very  hot  and  sul- 
try, they  suffered  much  from  the  heat  in 
the  day  time,  and  sometimes  by  reason  of 
hard  lodging  in  the  night ;  for  in  those 
days  the  people  in  the  back  country  were 
poor,  and  the  weary  traveller  generally 
had  to  put  up  with  a  lodging  on  the  floor. 
When  they  returned,  they  found  their 
skin  worn  off  in  a  number  of  places,  and 
their  linning  stained  with  blood.  Before 
they  parted,  the  Elder  examined  his  purse, 
and  found  that  in  the  course  of  the  jour- 
ney, he  had  received,  by  donation,  four 
whole  pistereens ;  which  he  divided  be- 
tween him  and  his  companion,  who  was 
very  loth  to  take  any  part  of  the  mon- 
ey. Randal  crowded  two  of  the  pieces 
into  his  hand,  saying,  "you  shall  have  it. 
Take  it  and  carry  it  to  your  wife." 

5.  After  recruiting  a  few  days,  Elder 
Randal  attended  a  quarterly  meeting  at 
Barnstead,  N.  H.  where  his  soul  was 
much  refreshed.    He,then>  on  the  16th 


144 


THE   LIFE  OF 


of  August,  by  request,  visited  Wolfbor- 
ough,  N.  H.  preached,  baptized,  embodi- 
ed a  church,  and  administered  the  Lord's 
supper.  It  was  a  most  glorious  time. 
He  baptized  again  on  the  26th  and  27th 
of  August.  On  the  28th  sat  out  for  Ken- 
nebeck.  In  this  route,  he  attended  the 
first  yearly  meeting  that  ever  was  holden 
in  Edgcomb.  This  meeting  continued 
four  days,  and  was  very  edifying.  He 
then  visited  the  churches  in  that  region, 
as  usual,  and  returned  and  attended  the 
October  quarterly  meeting  in  Barnstead. 

6.  October  24,  1792,  Elder  Randal 
with  several  others  by  a  previous  agree- 
ment,  sat  in  council  at  Middleton,  N.  H. 
and  after  a  very  lengthy  and  public  exam- 
ination, ordained  the  above  named  John 
Buzzell,  to  the  work  of  an  evangelist.— 
Elder  Randal  preached  a  sermon,  from 
2.  Cor.  v.  20.  "  Noiv  then  we  are  ambas- 
sadors for  Christ,  as  though  God  did  be- 
seech you  by  us,  we  jiray  you  in  Chris Vs 
stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God."  The 
charge  was  given  by  Elder  Samuei 
Weeks  ;  right  hand  of  fellow  ship  by  El- 
der John  Whitney  $  concluding  prayer  by 


Eider  Joseph  Boody.  The  whole  exer* 
cise  was  solemn  and  affecting.  The  ser- 
mon was  admirably  adapted  to  the  occa- 
sion, and  delivered  in  demonstration  of  the 
spirit  and  with  power  ;  some  thousands  at- 
tended, and  it  was  hoped  that  some  good 
vvas  done.  The  next  day,  October  25, 
Eld.  Randal  with  the  same  council,  went 
to  Wolfborough,  and  ordained  Isaac 
Townsend  to  the  work  of  an  evangelist. 
A  sermon  was  delivered  on  the  occasion 
by  Elder  Samuel  Weeks,  the  charge  was 
^iven  by  Elder  Randal,  the  right-hand  of 
fellowship  by  Elder  Joseph  Boody,  con- 
cluding prayer  by  Elder  Whitney. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

1.  Randal  attends  Y.  M.  at  Gorham.  2. 
Attends  Q.  M.  $  Y.  M—Goes  to  Straf- 
ford, Vt. — the  church  is  divided — Buz- 
zell  visits  them.  3.  Randal  visits  Ber-. 
tvickj  lyc.  4.  Daniel  Lord  ordained. 
5.  Randal  attends  Q.  M.  $  Y.  M.~ 
church  embodied  at  Farmington,  Me, 

1.  Elder  Randal  attends  yearly  meet- 
ing for  the  iirst  time  in  Gorham,  No- 
°  13 


J46 


THE   LIFE  OF 


member  3,  1792.  In  the  course  of  his 
journey  he  baptized  a  number,  and  enjoy- 
ed much  consolation^  but  as  he  was  re- 
turnhig  home,  his  horse  fell  under  him, 
and  so  fractured  his  shoulder  that  it  ruined 
him.  Randal,  however,  escaped  unhurt, 
which  he  considered  as  a  remarkable  in- 
terposition of  divine  providence.  The 
horse  was  very  valuable,  but  the  Lord 
provided  another  for  him.  He  states  that 
he  travelled  in  the  course  of  that  year 
1138  miles,  and  attended  340  meetings. 

He  closed  his  journal  for  that  year? 
with  the  following  poem  : 

w  0  God,  to  thee,  my  soul  aspires, 

With  grateful  thoughts  and  warm  desires, 

To  praise  thy  glorious  name  :  . 

O  !  tune  my  heart  to  sing  thy  praise, 

Thou  God  of  love— thou  God  of  grace— 

Thou  glorious,  great  "  I  AM." 

My  soul's  enraptur'd  with  thy  love, 

All  my  affections  soar  above, 

To  thee,  my  God,  to  thee  ; 

There's  nought  below  the  spacious  sky, 

My  thirsty  soul  can  satisfy, 

?Tis  all  too  small  for  me." 

2,  Jan.  7,  1793,  Elder  Randal,  after 
attending  the  monthly  meeting  in  New- 
Durham,  went  to  Barnstead  and  attend- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


147 


ed  quarterly  meeting.  On  the  first  Satur- 
day in  Feb.,  he  attended  the  yearly  meet* 
ihg  at  Parsonsfieid.  After  returning 
home,  on  Feb.  16th,  he  sat  out  to  visit 
the  church  in  Strafford,  Vt. ;  but  to  his 
grief  found  them  so  divided  in  their  sen- 
timents, that  it  was  rather  a  house  of  con- 
tention than  a  house  of  prayer.  He 
therefore  advised  them  to  separate  into 
two  bodies,  and  each  to  enjoy  liberty  of 
conscience  ;  but  to  love  each  other  as 
brethren,  and  not  to  treat  each  other  as 
enemies.  Accordingly,  those  who  were 
of  Calvinistic  sentiments,  drew  off  into  a 
church  by  themselves,  and  of  course  the 
rest  were  left  in  a  scattered  situation. — 
Elder  Randal  returned  home,  and  stat- 
ed their  condition  to  his  young  compan- 
ion, John  Buzzell,  and  advised  him  to  go 
immediately  and  try  to  put  them  into  gos- 
pel order.  He  accordingly  sat  off  on 
foot,  a  distance  of  about  110  miles,  ac- 
companied by  another  young  man. — 
When  they  arrived,  they  found  the  breth- 
ren, not  only  scattered,  but  weak  and  dis- 
heartened. They  had  sunk  under  dis- 
couragements, on  account  of  the  severe 


THE   LIFE  OF 


trials  through  which  they  had  passed, 
while  trying  to  walk  together  in  disagree- 
ment. However,  after  *  visiting  them 
from  house  to  house,  and  attending  sev- 
eral meetings  of  worship  and  conference 
with  them,  by  the  help  of  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church,  they  organized  a 
small  church  consisting  of  nine  members 
only,  which  from  that  time  continued  in 
fellowship,  and  have  ever  since  been  in- 
creasing in  number,  and  spreading  into 
different  parts.  Ministers  have  been  raised 
up,  churches  embodied,  quarterly  and 
yearly  meetings  established  ;  till,  finally, 
from  this  small  beginning,  the  Connexion 
has  spread,  not  only  through  that  state2 
but  into  the  upper  part  of  New-Hamp- 
shire, the  Canadas,  New- York,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Ohio,  &c.  So  that  we  may  say, 
with  the  utmost  propriety,  behold,  how 
great  a  matter  a  little  of  the  heavenly  fire 
has  kindled  ! 

S.  To  return  to  my  narrative.  Elder 
Randal,  after  returning  from  Vermont, 
by  request,  visited  Berwick  and  Kittery, 
Me.  and  collected  a  small  society,  but 
thought  it  not  proper  to  embody  a  church 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL 


U9 


Returning  from  thence,  he  attended  a 
quarterly  meeting  at  Pittsfield,  N.  H., 
and  baptized  a  number  in  that  place 
From  thence  he  returned  home,  and  con- 
tinued in  his  own  neighborhood  till  af- 
ter the  yearly  meeting.  The  yearly 
meeting  convened  on  the  8th  of  June  at 
New-Durham,  and  continued  four  days. 
This  was  a  time  of  refreshing  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord.  A  great  multi- 
tude attended,  and  it  was  hoped  that 
much  good  was  done  in  the  name  of  Je- 
sus. 

4.  On  the  11th  of  June,  being  the  third 
day  of  the  meeting,  Daniel  Lord  of  Kit- 
tery  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist.  Elder 
P.  Tingley  preached  from  Mark  xvi.  15, 
a  short  but  pithy  discourse.  Elder  Ran 
dal  gave  the  charge,  and  Elder  Samuel 
Weeks  gave  the  right-hand  of  fellowship. 
*  The  scene  was  interesting,  the  saints 
were  much  edified,  and  heavenly  joy 
seemed  to  fill  the  assembly.  Baptism 
was  administered  every  day  while  the 
meeting  continued  5  seven  new  members 
were  added,  and  the  ministers  and  mes?> 
sengers  returned  praising  God, 
13* 


150 


THE   LIFE  OF 


5.  In  the  forepart  of  .August,  Elder 
Randal  visited  the  church  in  Canterbury, 
and  baptized  seven  persons  in  that  place. 
August  21,  he  attended  the  New-Dur* 
ham  quarterly  meeting,  which  was  then 
holdenat  Barrington,  N.  H.    Much  busi- 
ness was  done,  and  great  harmony  exist- 
ed among  the  members.    Sept.  7,  he  at- 
tended the  yearly  meeting  at  Edgcomb, 
Me.,  and  after   the   close,    visited  the 
churches  in  that  region.    From  thence 
he  went  to  the  upper  settlements  on  the 
Kennebeck  river,  a  distance  of  about  100 
miles,  and  in  the  course  of  this  tour,  in 
company  with  others,  embodied  a  church 
at  Farmington,  Me.,  and  established  a 
monthly  meeting.    This  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  what  are  now  called  the  Farming- 
ton  and  Exeter  quarterly  meetings,  which 
now  consist  of  nearly  50  churches.  The 
church  above  named  was  embodied  Sept.  j 
21,  1792.    Elder  Randal,  after  visiting 
all  the  towns  in  that  vicinity  and  seeing 
much  of  the  work  of  God,  returned 
home,   attended   the   monthly  meeting 
in  New-Durham,  and  the  New-Durham 
quarterly  meeting ;  and  on  the  2d  of  No* 


BENJAMIN  KANDAL. 


151 


vember  attended  the  yearly  meeting  at 
Gorhain,  which  was  adjourned  to  Gray  on 
account  of  some  special  business.  From 
thence  he  returned  home,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  the  year  with  his  family,  aad 
brethren  in  New- Durham.  It  appears 
by  his  Journal,  that  he  travelled  that  year 
in  the  service  of  truth,  1172  miles,  and 
attended  rising  of  300  meetings,  besides 
attending  to  the  cares  of  his  family. 

He  closed  his  account  with  the  follow- 
ing poem : 

"  Here  I  raise  my  Ebenezer, 

And  acknowledge  hitherto, 

That  the  Lord  is  my  preserver; 

In  Him  I  now  my  choice  renew, 

O,  my  glorious,  great  Creator, 

I  am  thine,  by  precious  blood, 

Use  me,  though  a  worthless  creature^ 

'To  proclaim  thy  truth,  my  God" 


163 


THE   LIFE  Of 


CHAPTER  XVIir 

t.  Randal  visits  Vermont—returns — vis- 
its Canterbury,  fyc— attends  a  Q.  M, 
and  Y.  M.  2.  Visits  Berwick,  fyc. 
3.  Goes  on  an  eastern  tour.  4.  Visits 
a  criminal  in  Poivnalborough  jail— 
stays  at  night  at  a  tavern- — a  ball 
broken  up,  §e. 

1.  Jan.  1,  1794,  Eider  Randal  the 
third  time  sat  off  for  Vermont,  and  visit- 
ed the  church  in  Strafford.  He  found 
the  brethren  in  general  steadfast  in  the 
faith,  and  well  engaged  in  the  cause  of 
Christ.  After  tarrying  with  them  a  short 
season,  he  returned  to  his  family,  much 
satisfied  with  his  visit.  Jan.  23,  he  bap- 
tized a  goodly  number,  and  at  the  water 
side,  sung  the  following  lines  ; 

"  Christians,  if  your  hearts  be  warm, 

Ice  and  snow  can  do  no  harm  ; 

If  by  Jesus  you  are  priz'd, 

Now  arise  and  be  baptiz'd,"  &c; 

He  never  appeared  to  fear  cold  water 
when  duty  called  him  to  follow  his  Sav- 
ior.   I  have  *een  him  step  down  into 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


153 


the  water  up  to  his  middle,  and  pull  away 
the  ice  with  his  hands,  and  then  re- 
ceive the  candidates  one  after  another, 
and  baptize  them3  while  the  spectators 
were  shuddering  and  trembling  with  the 
coli  At  the  same  time  he  and  the  can- 
didates were  praying  and  singing  prais- 
es to  God,  and  appeared  as  comfortable 
as  at  mid-summer.  Feb.  1,  he  attend 
ed  the  yearly  meeting  at  Parsonsfield,  Me.; 
and  on  the  26th  of  the  same  month,  visit- 
ed the  church  in  Canterbury,  N.  H.,  and 
administered  the  Lord's  supper ;  and 
says,  u  I  had  a  blessed  season  with  them.55 
April  30,  he  visited  the  church  in  Gil- 
manton,  N.  H.,  and  administered  baptism 
and  the  Lord?s  supper  in  that  place- 
May  15,  he  attended  the  monthly  meet- 
ing in  New-Durham,  where  he  enjoyed 
himself  exceedingly  well.  "  It  was,  says 
he,  a  most  wonderful  season  :  the  shout s 
of  the  camp  of  Israel  made  the  garrison 
of  the  Philistines  to  tremble  !" 

"  Melting  streams  of  love  divine, 
Flow  from  Christ  the  living  vine, 
"Warms  our  hearts  with  heavenly  fire. 
Raising  every  pure  desire/' 


154 


THE   LIFE  OF 


May  21,  he  attended  the  quarterly 
meeting  at  Pittsfield,  N.  H.,  and  was 
highly  gratified  in  seeing  the  good  order 
that  existed  among  the  brethren,  and  in 
hearing  good  news  from  the  churches. — 
June  14,  he  attended  the  yearly  meeting 
in  New-Durham  which  continued  four 
days.  Love  and  harmony  still  prevailed 
among  the  members,  and  the  accounts 
from  all  the  quarterly  meetings  were  very 
refreshing.  "  Here,  says  he,  we  experi- 
enced the  fulfilment  of  the  ancient  proph- 
esy, '  Zion  shall  lengthen  her  cords,  and 
strengthen  her  stakes  ;  she  shall  break 
forth  on  the  right  hand,  and  on  the  left.55  3 

2.  In  the  month  of  July,  after  attend- 
ing the  monthly  meeting  in  New-Durham, 
he  visited  Berwick,  Kittery,  and  York, 
Me.,  and  Newcastle,  N.  H,,  and  assisted 
.the  churches  in  those  towns,  by  setting 
in  order  those  things  that  were  wanting 
among  them.  After  his  return,  he  went 
*  again  to  the  west  and  visited  Canterbury, 
preached  the  word,  and  assisted  them  in 
regulating  their  church  affairs ;  he  also  ad- 
ministered the  Lord's  supper.  This  vis- 
it was  attended  with  a  great  blessing  — 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


155 


H«  remarks,  "  many  were  struck  under 
pungent  conviction,  which  were  after- 
wards Drought  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord.?- 
August  £0,  he  attended  the  quarterly 
meeting  in  Barrington.  "  My  soul,  says 
he,  was  filled  with  gratitude  to  God,  to 
see  the  harmony  and  order,  and  to  hear 
of  the  increase  of  the  work  of  God 
through  the  land  $  also  to  hear  of  the 
great  numbers  that  are  daily  added  to 
Christ's  kingdom. " 

"When  souls  the  storm  of  wrath  do  see., 
L>ke  clouds  before  the  storm,  they  flee 
To  Jesus,  who  for  them  did  die, 
As  doves  that  for  a  shelter  fly  ; 
Glory  to  the  pure  spotless  Lamb, 
Who  bore  the  sinner's  guilt  and  shame, 
That  they  might  find  a  hiding  place 
From  wrath,  and  be  renew'd  by  grace." 

3.  About  the  last  of  August,  he  sat  out 
again  for  Kennebeck,  and  on  the  6th  of 
Sept.  attended  the  yearly  meeting  at 
Edgcomb,  which  continued  till  the  10th  ; 
much  business  was  done.  The  Edgcomb  * 
and  Farmington  quarterly  meetings  were 
both  established  at  this  meeting,  and  their 
respective  limits  stipulated.  The  Edg- 
comb quarterly  meeting  was  to  extend 


156 


THE    LIFE  OF 


ivest  as  far  as  Brunswick,  and  up  the 
Androscoggin  river  as  far  as  Little  river 
and  Lewiston — southward  all  along  the 
seashore,  including  the  adjacent  islands 
- — eastward  as  far  as  Camden  and  Cana- 
an on  the  Penobscot  bay,  and  northward 
until  it  meets  the  bounds  of  the  Farming- 
ton  quarterly  meeting,  including  all  the 
churches  in  the  Connexion  within  those 
limits.  The  Farmington  quarterly  meeting 
was  to  extend  east  as  far  as  Twenty-five 
miles  Fond — north  as  far  as  there  were  any 
settlements  on  the  Kenneheck  river,  and  to 
the  upper  settlements  on  the  Sandy  river ; 
including  all  the  churches  in  the  Connex- 
ion within  those  limits.  The  accounts 
given  in  at  this  meeting  were  very  re- 
freshing. The  messengers  brought  tidings 
of  great  revivals  and  large  additions  to  the 
churches.  After  the  close  of  the  yearly 
meeting,  Elder  Randal  visited  George- 
town, Bristol  and  Woolwich,  and  held  a 
number  of  very  profitable  meetings  in  each 
of  those  places.  He  then  sat  out  for  the 
upper  settlements  on  the  Sandy  river,  ac- 
companied by  myself  and  several  others 
who  were  bound  the  same  way. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


157 


4.  As  we  passed  through  Pownalbor- 
<ough,  Me.,  we  were  informed  that  a  col- 
ored man,  by  the  name  of  Edmond  For- 
ds, was  in  jail,  and  condemned  to  die  for 
committing  a  rape  on  the  body,  and  mur- 
dering a  girl  thirteen  years  of  age.  Af- 
ter hearing  the  circumstances,  Eld.  Ran- 
dal expressed  a  great  desire  to  see  the 
criminal.  We  were  accordingly  admit- 
ted, and  a  considerable  number  were  ad- 
mitted with  us.  It  was  the  first  time  that 
I  ever  was  in  a  prison  ;  and  the  first  time 
I  ever  saw  a  man  who  was  condemned  to 
be  hung.  It  was,  therefore,  to  me,  an 
awful  scene.  It  would  be  impossible  for 
words  to  describe  the  ideas  and  views, 
with  which  my  mind  was  impressed. 
The  Eider,  however,  improved  every  mo- 
ment in  discoursing  with  the  prisoner. — 
He  questioned  him  much  in  respect  to  the 
horrid  crime,  for  which  he  was  condemn- 
ed to  die.'  The  criminal  frankly  owned 
the  whole,  and  told  every  circumstance, 
which  made  my  blood  chill  in  my  veins 
He,  however,  expressed  a  hope  that  God 
had  forgiven  him.  But  Eider  Randal 
-dealt  very  plainly  with  hi-n,  and  told  him 

n 


156 


THE    LIFE  OF 


he  was  afraid  he  was  deceived,  and  en- 
treated him  to  cry  mightily  to  God  for  a 
clearer  evidence  than  he  then  had.  The 
criminal  desired  prayers.  Elder  Ran- 
dal prayed  in  a  most  solemn  manner,  that 
he  might  know  the  worst  of  his  case,  and 
the  reality  of  the  pardoning  love  and  mer- 
cy of  God  in  his  soul.  The  criminal  wept, 
and  also  the  spectators.  Finally,  it  was  a 
weeping  time.  We  then  proceeded  up 
the  Kennebeck  river  on  the  eastern  side, 
when  night  came  on  before  we  found  an 
inn.  At  length,  however,  we  found  one ; 
but  as  we  drew  nigh  we  heard  the  sound 
of  a  viol,  which  was  unpleasant  to  us,  es- 
pecially to  me  at  that  season,  having  so 
lately  visited  the  prison  and  contemplat- 
ed the  wages  of  sin,  and  seen  one  con- 
demned to  die.  I  said  to  one  of  the  com- 
pany, "  I  cannot  stay  where  that  viol  is." 
He  answered,  "trust  in  the  Lord,  and 
your  enemies  shall  flee  before  you  seven 
ways."  The  landlord  led  us  into  the  room 
where  the  viol  was,  it  being  the  best  in 
his  house,  where  we  found  a  large  com- 
pany of  respectable  looking  folks  engag- 
ed in  dancing,- while  an  old  negro  was 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  159 

playing  a  tone  on  his  fiddle.  One  of  our 
c  ompany  spoke  very  solemnly,  and  with 
some  christian  authority,  said,  "  I  don't 
like  to  hear  that  fiddle.55  The  negro  im- 
mediatiy  left  the  room,  and  fled  into  the 
kitchen,  and  the  young  gentlemen  and 
ladies,  his  employers,  soon  followed  him. 
We  then  took  our  seats,  and  after  a  sol- 
emn pause  of  3  few  minutes,  I  sung  the 
following  lines  : 

"My  days,  my  weeks,  my  months,  my  years, 
Fly  rapid,  like  the  whirling  spheres 

Around  the  steady  pole  5 
Time,  like  a  tide,  its  motion  keeps, 
Till  I  shali  launch  that  boundless  deep> 

Where  endless  ages  roll. 

The  grave  is  near  the  cradle  seen, 
How  swift  the  moments  pass  between  f" 

And  whisper  as  they  fly — 
'•-  Unthinking  man  remember  this, 
Thou,  midst  thy  sublunary  bliss, 

Must  groan,  and  gasp,  and  die." 

These  lines  had  a  most  solemn  effect 
on  the  young  company,  and  also  on  the 
family.  Many  of  them  sighed  while  I 
sung,  and  as  soon  as  the  hymn  was  clos- 
ed the  fiddler  passed  out,  and  bade  us 

good  night,"  and  his  company  follow- 


160 


THE   LIFE  OE 


ed.  We  then  enjoyed  a  comfortable  sea  - 
son in  religious  conversation  and  prayer. 
The  landlord  then  lighted  us  to  bed.  We 
enjoyed  a  comfortable  repose.  We  arose 
early  in  the  morning  to  goon  our  journey, 
and  called  on  the  landlord  to  make  out 
our  bills,  which  he  did  ;  but  in  a  most  af- 
fectionate manner  entreated  us  to  stop 
and  pray  with  his  family,  saying  he  was 
sorry  we  found  him  with  such  company 
and  conduct  in  his  house.  We  conde- 
scended, and  the  family  being  called  into 
the  room,  Elder  Randal  prayed  most  fer- 
vently for  the  landlord,  and  his  wife,  and 
children,  and  hired  servants  5  and  espec- 
ially that  there  might  be  room  for  Christ 
in  that  inn.  When  he  closed,  the  land- 
lord thanked  him,  and  desired  us  all  to 
call  on  him,  if  ever  we  came  that  way 
again.  The  whole  family  appeared  ten- 
der, and  one  of  them  told  one  of  our  com- 
pany that  they  had  frequently  entertain- 
ed ministers,  but  that  none  of  them  had 
ever  before  said  any  thing  to  them  about 
religion. 


tmSAMli*  RANDAX,  101 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

1.  Randal  visits  Uppertown.  2.  A  month- 
ly meeting  established— Randal  visits 
Farrningtoa — returns  home — attends 
Q.  M.  3.  Attends  ¥.  M.  at  Gorham— 
Goes  to  Raymond — Z.  Leach  ordained 
— Randal  returns  home,  <§*c. 

I.  After  taking  our  leave  of  the  family 
above  named,  we  proceeded  on  our  journ- 
ey, crossed  the  Kennebeck  at  Hallo  well, 
and  went  on  to  Chesterville,  and  tarried 
that  night  with  Elder  Edward  Locke. 

The  next  day  we  proceeded  to  Upper- 
town,  but  while  we  were  stopping  for  re- 
freshment, about  four  or  five  miles  short 
of  the  house  at  which  we  intended  to  put 
up,  a  messenger  came  in,  and  informed 
us  that  a  lad  belonging  to  the  family 
where  we  were  going  was  thought  to  be 
dying  with  the  billions,  cholic.  It  was 
also  stated  by  the  messenger,  that  the 
doctor  had  given  up  alt  hope.  On  hear- 
ing the  above,  the  company  mounted  their 
horses  and  rode  about  as  fast  as  they 
could,  till  they  arrived  at  the  house  where, 
U* 


162  THE   LIFE  OF 

the  lad  was  sick.    When  they  entered, 
they  found  the  house  filled  with  people, 
who  had  come  to  sympathise  with  the  af- 
flicted family.    A  number  of  whom  were 
standing  around  the  bed,  expecting  every 
moment  to  see  the  lad  breath  his. last ; 
while  the  surrounding  relatives  were  bath- 
ed in  tears.    Upon  seeing  this,  one  of  the 
ministers  pressed  through  the  crowd  to 
the  bedside,  and  asked,  "  do  you  think, 
friends,  that  this  lad  is  dying  ?"  The  an- 
swer was,  "  O  yes,  the  doctor  has  given 
him  over."    The  minister  said,  "  this  lad 
is  not  dying.55    This  sickness  is  not  unto 
death,  but  for  the  glory  of  God  ;  and  turn- 
ing from  the  bed,  took  a  seat  with  two 
other  ministers  5  one  of  whom  said,  "  let 
us  pray,"  and  kneeling  down,  he  address- 
ed the  throne  of  grace  in  a  most  fervent 
manner,  for  the  life  of  tike  child.  The 
others,  one  after  another,  continued  the 
supplication.    When  prayer  was  ended, 
another  of  the  ministers  prepared  a  little 
weak  lie  from  the  ashes  on  the  hearth, 
and  gave  the  same  to  the  lad.    This  be- 
ing done,  he   immediately  revived  and 
grew  better.    The  next  day  he  was  able 


BENJA&UN  RANDAL.  I&3 

to  Sit  up.  What  is  still  more  worthy  of 
remark  is,  I  have  been  credibly  informed, 
that  the  lad  from  that  day  forward, 
brought  forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance. 
The  name  of  the  youth  I  think  was  Gree- 

2.  The  day  following,  Sept.  25,  we 
attended  a  meeting  with  the  church  in 
the  same  house. 

Here  we  found  the  wilderness  blosom- 
ing  like  a  rose.  We  were  informed  that 
every  adult  in  the  town  was  hopefully 
converted.  After  much  profitable  conver- 
sation, we  established  a  monthly  meeting 
in  the  place,  to  be  holden  on  the  second 
Saturday  in  every  month.  The  next  day 
we  attended  a  meeting  of  worship,  and 
the  administration  of  the  Lord's  supper. 
This  was  a  time  of  refreshing  indeed.  To 
see  most  all  the  people  in  a  newly  settled 
town,  aged,  middle-aged,  and  blooming 
youth,  surrounding  the  Lord's  table,  is  a 
sight  that  is  seldom  witnessed. 

Sept.  27,  Elder  Randal  returned  to 
Farmington,  and  the  next  day,  being  Sab- 
bath, preached  and  broke  bread  to  the 
brethren  in  that  place*    The  same  day  I 


164 


THE    LIFE  OF 


preached  in  Starksrto  a  crowded  a&serrr* 
bly,  and  witnessed  a  blessed  revival, 
which  resulted  in  a  very  glorious  reforma- 
tion. The  converts  however,  I  under- 
stood, joined  the  Methodist  Society.— 
The  day  following,  we  left  that  region, 
and  proceeded  homeward,  having  seen 
much  of  the  work  of  the  Lord  through  all 
the  journey. 

Elder  Randal,  after  returning  home, 
and  paying  some  attention  to  his  family 
affairs,  and  attending  to  the  concerns  of 
the  church  in  New-Durham,  attended  the 
quarterly  meeting.  On  the  1st  day  of 
the  ensuing  November,  he  went  to  Gor- 
ham  to  attend  the  yearly  meeting.  From 
thence,  by  appointment,  he  went  to  Ray- 
mond, Me.,  and  assisted  in  the  ordination 
of  Zach.  Leach;  Elder  Randal  preached 
the  sermon  from  Ezek.  xxxiii.  7.  "So 
thou,  O  son  of  man,  I  have  set  thee  a 
watchman  unto  the  house  of  Israel  $  there- 
fore thou  shall  hear  the  word  at  my  mouth, 
and  warn  them  from  me."  The  dis- 
course was  both  instructive  and  quicken- 
ing. Elder  John  Buzzell  prayed  at  the 
laying  on  of  ha»ds>  and  gave  the  charge. 


EE  NJA  MI>'  E  A  If  DAL.  165 

Elder  Samuel  "Weeks  nave  the  right- 
hand  of  fellowship,  and  made  the  conclud- 
ing prayer.  The  scene  was  truly  solemn 
and  delightful , 

Elder  Randal  then  returned  home,  la- 
den with  the  experience  of  God's  good- 
ness, He  spent  the  residue  of  the  year  with 
his  family  and  friends  in  X evv-Durhaim 

CHAPTER.  XX. 

I,  Randal  attends  Q.  M.  at  Middleton 
and  Wolf  borough — F.  M.  at  Parsons- 
field  and  M  Durham.  2.  Ordination 
of  David  Knowlton,  sen. —attends  Edg- 
comb  Y.  M  c  e  ^  Attends  F.  M.  at 
P ar sons fiiei /,  and  Y.  M.  at  JV.  Dur- 
ham, 4.  Attends  Y.  M.  at  Edgcoml 
and  Gorham. 

1.  January  21  and  22,  1795,  Elder 
R and al  attended  a  quarterly  meeting  in 
Middleton.  N.  H.,  and  delivered  a  very 
weighty  discourse  from  Song  v.  1.  "Eat, 
O  friends ,  drink,  yea,  drink  abundantly, 
O  beloved."  Feb.  7,  he  attended  the 
yearly  meeting  at  Parsonsfield,  and  en 


THE    LIFE  OF 


the  20th  of  May,  attended  a  quarterly 
meeting  at  Wolf  borough;  Jane  13,  he- 
attended  the  yearly  meeting  in  New- 
Durham,  and  preached  an  excellent  dis- 
course from  Philip,  ii.  3.  "  Let  nothing 
be  dons  through  strife  or  vain  glory ;  but 
in  lowliness  of  mind  let  each  esteem  oth- 
ers better  than  themselves?*  In  all  the 
above  meetings,  it  appears  by  the  minutes, 
that  much  business  was  done.,  and  much 
consolation  enjoyed  5  and  a  considerable 
number  added  to  the  Connexion. 

2.  Aug.  12,  Elder  Randal  and  oth- 
ers, agreeably  to  an  appointment  of  year- 
ly meeting,  went  to  Pittsfield,  N.  H.,  and 
ordained  David  Knowlton,  sen.  to  the 
work  of  an  evangelist.  \  Eider  Daniel 
Lord  made  the  first  prayer  Elder  John 
Buzzeli  preached  the  seraion,  from  2  Tim. 
iv.  5.  "Do  the  work  of  an  evangelist, 
make  full  proof  of  thy  ministry?*  Eld. 
Randal  prayed  at  the  laying  on  qOiands, 
and  gave  the  charge.  Eldey^Voseph 
Boody,  sen.  .nave  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship, and  made  the  concluding  prayer. 

Elder  Randal,  having  performed  the 
above   appointment,  returned  home  and 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


167 


made  arrangements  for  another  eastern 
tour.  On  the  5th  of  September  he  at- 
tended the  yearly  meeting  at  Edgcomb. 
At  this  meeting  he  was  much  comforted 
in  reading  the  letters  and  hearing  ver- 
bal reports  from  the  different  quarterly 
meetings,  which  brought  tidings  of  love 
and  harmony  among  the  churches.  On 
the  Sabbath,  A.  M.,  he  preached  from 
Psalms  xxiv.  3.  "  Who  shall  ascend  into 
the  hill  of  the  Lord  ?  and  who  shall  stand 
in  Ms  holy  place  ?"  P.  M.  Elder  Isaac 
Townsend  preached  from  Isa.  lv.  1.  "  Ho 
every  one  that  thirstethS*  fyc.  Many 
weighty  exhortations  were  delivered  by 
others.  At  the  close  of  the  exercise,  they 
administered  the  Lord's  supper.  Eider 
Randal,  after  making  his  usual  visits  in 
those  parts,  returned,  and  by  an  appoint- 
ment of  yearly  meeting,  visited  the  church 
in  Raymond,  Me.  After  which  he  return- 
f  ed  home,  and  attended  a  quarterly  meeting 
at  his  own  house. 

October  21,  he  went  with  others  to 
Canterbury,  N.H.,  and  gave  the  right-hand 
of  fellow  ship  to  the  church  in  that  place  as 
a  .branch  of  the  church  of  New- Durham. 


168 


THE    LIFE  OP 


Returning  from  thence,  lie  immediately 
sat  off  for  yearly  meeting,  which  was  hold- 
en  in  Gorham  on  the  7th,  Sth,  and  9th  of 
the  ensuing  November.  After  making 
his  usual  visits  in  that  vicinity,  he  return- 
ed home,  and  probably  closed  the  year 
with  his  family  and  friends  in  his  own 
neighborhood. 

3.  Jan.  20,  1796,  he  attended  anoth- 
er quarterly  meeting  at  his  own  house. 
On  the  6th  of  Feb.  he  attended  the  year- 
ly meeting  in  Parsonsfield.  On  the  18th 
of  May  following,  he  again  attended  quar- 
terly meeting  in  New-Durham.  June 28th 
he  went  to  Canterbury,  and  assisted  in  or- 
daining Winthrop  Young  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry  ;  and  David  Kent  to  the  of- 
iiceof  deacon.  Eld.  John  Whitney  made 
the  first  prayer — Eld.  Randal  preached 
from  Eph.  iii.  8.  u  Unto  me,  who  am  less 
than  the  least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace 
given,  that  I  should  preach  anion?;  the 
Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
Christ^  Eld.  John  Buzzell  prayed  at 
the  laying  on  of  hands,  and  gave  the 
charge — Eld.  Joseph  Boody  gave  the 
right-hand  of  fellowship,  and  Eld.  Randal 
closed  the  solemnity  by  prayer. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


4.  June  11,  he  attended  the  yearly 
meeting  in  New-Durham,  ami  served  as 
moderator  ;  and  on  the  17th  of  August  at- 
tended the  New-Durham  quarterly  meet- 
ing, and  served  as  clerk.  Sept.  3,  he 
attended  the  yearly  meeting  again  at  Edg- 
comb.  Me.,  and  after  the  meetino^losed, 
he  visited  the  churches  in  that  r^lSbn,  as 
usual,  and  assisted  in  the  regulation  of 
their  gifts,  and  setting  in  order  those  things 
which  were  wanting  among  them.  He 
then  returned  home,  and  on  the  19th  of 
October  attended  the  New-Durham  quar- 
terly meeting,  which  was  a  very  glorious 
season  indeed.  Many  attended.  Sinners 
were  awakened  and  saints  comforted. 

Nov,  5,  he  attended  the  yearly  meet- 
ing at  Gorham,  and  then  returned,  and 
spent  the  rest  of  that  year  with  his  family, 
and  in  gospel  labors  in  that  region. 


15 


no 


THE   LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  XXI 

1.  Randal  embodies  a  church  at  New  field, 
2.  Visits  Newcastle — attends  Y.  M.  at 
Woolwich.  3.  Extraordinary  revival 
at  N.  Durham.  4.  Ordination  of  Bal- 
lard, 4»c. 

1.  Jan.  18,  1797,  Elder  Randal  at 
tended  the  New-Durham  quarterly  meet- 
ing, and  being  appointed  with  others  for 
that  purpose,  went  to  Newfield,  Me.,  and 
embodied  a  church  on  the  6th  of  March. 
This  church  was  small  at  that  time,  but 
has  ever  been  increasing  from  that  time  to 
this,  and  is  now  a  large  and  flourishing 
church.  The  ministers  who  assisted  him 
in  embodying  them,  were  Elders  Pelatiah 
Tingley  and  John  Buzzell.  June  10,  11 
and  12,  Eld.  Randal  attended  the- year- 
ly meeting  at  New-Durham.  The  day 
following,  he  baptized  Daniel  Shakley 
and  Simon  Emery  of  Berwick,  Me.  Will- 
iam Allard  and  Polly  Jackson  of  Roch- 
ester, N.  H.  Paul  Otis  and  Mary  Foss 
®f  Barring  ton,  N.  H. 

2.  July  30,  he  went  to  Newcastle,  N. 
and  baptized  Thomas  Bell,  Joshua 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


171 


Hooper,  Nancy  Mitchel,  Betsey  Bell. 
Dorothy  Yeatcn,  Polly  Tarlton,  and  Ab- 
igail Amerzine.  July  31,  he  baptized 
John  Bell,  Mary  Amerzine,  Abigail  Neal, 
and  Mary  True.  From  thence,  he  re- 
turned, and  attended  the  New-Durham 
quarterly  meeting,  which  was  holden  at 
his  own  house,  on  the  18th  and  19th  of 
October,  and  was  a  very  glorious  season. 
It  was  now  a  time  of  general  revival  in 
New- Durham,  and  in  several  other  towns 
in  that  vicinity.  He  had  full  employ 
about  home  through  the  remaining  part  of 
the  year,  and  the  ensuing  winter.  The 
minutes  of  the  New-Durham  quarterly 
meeting,  holden  Jan.  17  and  18,  1798, 
state,  that  they  received  accounts  of  love 
and  harmony  among  the  churches  $  and 
that  revivals  were  taking  place  in  almost 
every  direction.  The  Macedonian  cries 
were  frequently  heard,  "  Come  over  and 
help  us."  The  Elder  spared  no  pains  to 
answer  them. 

3.  June  9,  the  yearly  meeting  com- 
menced at  New-Durham,  and  continued 
four  days ;  and  from  the  commencement 
to  the  elese*  was  one  of  the  most  extraor- 


THE   LIFE  OF 


dinary  scenes  I  ever  witnessed,  or  per* 
haps  that  was  ever  witnessed  in  New- 
England.  About  one  thousand  persons 
were  present  when  the  meeting  began  ; 
and  a  large  number  of  ministers  from  all 
parts  of  the  Connexion,  were  also  present. 
About  as  soon  as  the  people  were  seated^, 
there  appeared  a  more  than  common  de- 
gree of  solemnity  resting  on  the  assembly, 
and  the  power  of  God  seemed  to  fall  upon 
them,  in  some  measure,  as  it  did  on  the 
disciples  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  The 
whole  assembly  appeared  to  be  shocked ; 
and  it  was  difficult  to  tell  who  first  felt  the 
shock.  The  first  person  that  I  heard 
speak,  was  a  young  man,  who  arose,  and 
in  a  most  feeling  manner,  confessed  his 
disobedience  to  God,  to  his  parents,  and 
to  those  who  had  been  his  instructors  5 
and  asked  the  forgiveness  of  all  present, 
who  knew  him.  He  then  stated,  that  God 
had  forgiven  his  sins,  changed  his  heart, 
brought  him  up  out  of  an  horrible  pit  and 
miry  clay,  set  his  feet  on  the  rock  of  ages, 
established  his  goings,  and  put  a  new 
song  in  his  mouth,  even  praise  to  God. 
H©  then,  in  a  most  powerful  manner,  ex* 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  173 

liorted  all,  both  old  and  young,  male  and 
female,  to  w  Come  taste  and  see  that  the 
Lord  is  good."  While  he  was  thus  speak- 
ing, a  large  number  of  youth,  in  different 
parts  of  the  assembly,  began  to  weep ; 
and  a  number  fell  on  their  knees,  and  be- 
gan to  cry  vocally  for  mercy;  and  the 
cries  so  increased,  that  in  a  few  minutes, 
it  was  difficult  to  distinguish  one  voice 
from  another,  unless  any  one  spake  very 
loud.  Several  of  the  young  preachers 
left  their  seats,  and  dispersed  through  the 
assembly,  and  conversed  with  and  prayed 
for  those  in  distress.  Thus  the  exercise 
continued  through  the  day,  and  a  number 
were  hopefully  converted.  The  work  was 
go  extraordinary,  that  it  proved  a  trial  to 
many  of  the  ministers  present.  Some  of 
the  subjects  of  the  work,  would  cry  aloud 
for  mercy,  and  then  would  fall,  and  lay 
motionless  for  a  considerable  time — some 
longer  and  some  for  a  shorter  time — per- 
haps, some  for  the  space  of  an  hour,  like 
one  in  a  fainting  fit,  and  then  would  sud- 
denly come  to  themselves,  and  brake  out 
in  acclamations  of  praise  to  God,  and 
would  speak  with  the  tongues  of  the  learn- 
15* 

f  -  -  *  :     s  '   '        %  :/.  i,  . 


174  THE   LIFE  <5f 

ed  5  while  others  would  burst  into  liberty 
without  passing  through  those  exercises. 
Eld.  Randal  was  one  of  those  who  was 
tried  with  the  work ;  and  from  his  own 
feelings,  aided  by  the  entreaties  of  others, 
who  were  in  the  same  trial,  he  went  in 
among  them,  who  were  thus  exercised, 
and  desired  them  to  desist.  Accordingly, 
there  was  some  cessation  for  a  short  sea- 
son. But  the  Elder  was  soon  convinced 
that  he  had  done  wrong ;  and  arose,  and 
confessed  his  fault,  in  the  presence  of  the 
whole  congregation  5  and  said  he  had  been 
like  old  Uzzah,  who  attempted  to  steady 
the  Ark,  and  was  struck  dead.  He  asked 
the  forgiveness  of  all  present,  and  asked 
the  prayers  of  all  the  saints,  and  then  went 
into  the  work  himself.  The  others  who 
had  been  tried,  seeing  and  hearing  Elder 
Randal,  began  also  to  be  convinced  that 
the  work  was  of  God  ;'  and  fell  in  with  the 
same,  when  it  became  more  general.  The 
second  day  about  two  thousand  persons 
attended,  and  the  exercise  continued  in 
about  the  same  manner ;  and  was  stiH  in- 
creasing. The  third  day  it  was  thought 
that  about  three  thousand  attended,  and 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL,  175 
0 

the  assembly  being  large,  it  was  thought 
best  to  repair  to  a  field,  where  a  sermon 
was  delivered  by  Eld.  Isaac  Townsend, 
which  was  calculated  to  inform  the  under-,, 
standing  in  respect  to  the  way  of  salva- 
tion. In  the  mean  time,  meetings  of  wor- 
ship were  holden  in  different  parts  of  the 
town  $  and  new  cases  of  conviction  and 
conversion  were  almost  continually  taking 
place.  The  fourth  day,  by  previous  ap- 
pointment, they  assembled  at  the  water, 
and  Elder  Randal  baptized  a  number. 
Here  the  Lord  displayed  his  power  in  a 
marvellous  manner  among  the  spectators. 
The  work  continued  on  the  ground  near- 
ly all  day.  Many  stout-hearted  sinners 
were  cut  down,  and  cried  aloud  to  God 
for  mercy  ;  while  others  were  praising 
God  for  redeeming  love  5  so  that  it  was 
sometimes  difficult  to  distinguish  the  noise 
of  them  that  wept,  from  the  noise  of  them 
that  rejoiced.  Language,  however,  fails 
to  describe  the  scene.  Let  it,  therefore, 
suffice  to  say,  that  in  the  course  of  these 
four  days,  at  the  least  calculation,  as  many 
as  one  hundred  scarlet-red  sinners,  ap- 
peared to  become  snow-white  saints.  The 


ITB  THE-  LIFE  OF 

subjects  of  this  work  were  principally 
strangers  in  New-Durham,  being  from 
different  and  distant  parts.  This  circum- 
stance was  favorable  to  a  general  spread ; 
for  the  meeting  being  closed,  they  affec- 
tionately took  their  leave  of  each  other, 
and  returned  to  their  respective  homes, 
declaring  to  their  friends  and  acquaint- 
ance, what  great  things  the  Lord  had  done 
for  them.  From  this,  the  reformation 
took  almost  an  immediate  spread.  New 
doors  were  daily  opened  for  preaching — 
Young  preachers  raised  up  to  shew  the 
way  of  salvation- — New  churches  were 
frequently  embodied,  and  the  Connexion 
was  daily  increasing.  These  things  seem- 
ed to  put  new  life  in  the  old  preachers, 
and  many  of  them  exerted  themselves  to 
their  utmost,  for  the  advancement  of  the 
cause. 

4.  July  2,  179$  Eld.  Randal,  having 
been  appointed  with  others  for  that  pur- 
pose, went  to  Unity,  N.  H.,  and  ordained 
Jeremiah  Ballard  to  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry. Eld.  Randal  preached  a  sermon 
from  Col.  iv.  17.  "Say  to  Jlrchippus,  Take 
heed  to  the  ministry  which,  thou  hast  re- 


BENJAMIN   KAKDAL.  177 

ceived  in  the  Lord,  that  thou  fulfil  it." 
The  discourse  was  weighty  and  instruc- 
tive, and  the  scene  was  glorious.  The 
same  council  also  embodied  a  church  in 
that  town,  and  there  was  an  appearance 
of  a  general  reformation  in  that  section  of 
the  eountry.  Eld.  Ballard  was  a  very 
ingenious  and  flowery  preacher,  and  his 
preaching  was  attended  with  uncommon 
success.  Hundreds  of  souls  were  struck 
under  conviction  by  his  preaching.  How- 
ever, he  soon  run  into  many  religious  ex- 
travagances, for  which  he  was  afterwards 
rejected.  Such  as  kissing,  loud  laughing, 
and  screaming  in  meetings  of  worship, 
&c.  &,c. 

He  soon  after  removed  from  Unity  to 
one  of  the  southern  states,  and  it  has  been  a 
matter  of  some  consolation  to  hear  that  he 
has  since  abandoned  the  most  of  those  ex- 
travagances, and  become  regular  in  his  de- 
votion. It  ought,  how  ever,  to  be  remark- 
ed that  those  extravagances  did  not  imme- 
diately die  out  of  the  Connexion,  by  Eld. 
Ballard's  rejection  5  for  they  had  taken 
such  deep  root  in  a  number,  that  the  la- 
boring part  of  the  Connexion  found  hard 


178 


THE   MFJi  OF 


work  to  suppress  them.  The  writer  is  of 
opinion  that  the  separates,  afterward  call- 
ed the  Angel  Society ,  took  their  first  rise 
from  the  same  seed.  Although  he  regrets 
to  sully  these  pages  with  a  recital  of  such 
facts,  yet  he  hopes  that  the  narrative  will 
serve  as  a  barrier  against  such  extrava- 
gances 5  and  as  a  caution  to  all  preachers 
to  keep  humble,  and  not  to  be  lifted  up 
with  their  gifts.  u  Humility  goeth  before 
promotion,  and  a  haughty  spirit  before  a 
fall." 

Elder  Randal,  having  returned  from 
his  tour  to  Unity,  found  the  reformation 
wonderfully  spreading  in  New-Durham. 
Several  of  his  old  neighbors  had  become 
aew  creatures.  Aged,  middle  aged,  and 
youth9  were  praising  God  for  his  loving 
kindness. 

It  appears  by  the  return  of  the  New- 
Durham  church  to  the  next  quarterly 
meeting,  that,  in  the  short  time  of  about 
two  months,  ninety  souls  were  hopefully 
converted  in  that  town. 


BENJAMIN  BANOAL. 


179 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

1.  Aspect  of  New-Durha  m  Q.  M.  2.  A. 
BuzzeWs  wife  dies,  $c.  3.  The  work 
in  New-Durham  continues — Eld.  Ran- 
dal  attends  to  the  work.  4.  Attends 
Gorham  Y.  M.  5.  Attends  Y.M.at 
¥  arsons  field. 

I.  August  15,  the  New-Durham  quar- 
terly meeting  convened  at  Eld.  Randal's 
house,  and  exhibited  one  of  the  most  glo- 
rious scenes  which  had  ever  been  witnes- 
sed in  the  country.  A  large  number  of 
chosen  brethren,  from  the  churches,  were 
present,  accompanied  by  many  others  who 
came  as  volunteers  for  the  meeting,  and 
in  addition  to  these,  about  200  converts 
who  had  within  three  months  experienced 
a  work  of  divine  grace.  These  all  being 
filled  with  the  love  of  God,  and  a  deep 
sense  of  his  unmerited  goodness  to  them 
and  others,  the  whole  day  was  spent  in 
praising  God.  Eld.  Randal  says,  "it 
appeared  the  most  like  heaven  upon  earth, 
and  glory  in  the  bud,  of  any  thing  we  have 
ever  experienced.55    The  2d  day  of  the 


180 


THE   LIFE  OF 


meeting,  no  business  was  done,  excepting 
to  call  and  adjourn.  The  whole  time  be- 
ing filled  up  with  the  most  animating  ser- 
mons and  exhortations,  and  heart-felt  as- 
criptions of  praise  to  God  and  the  Lamb. 

2.  On  the  3d  day  of  the  meeting,  which 
w  as  the  17th  of  Aug.  1798,  they  had  sor- 
row to  mingle  with  their  joys.  Eld.  Aaron 
Buzzell  now  of  Strafford,  Vt.,  was  at 
that  time  a  candidate  for  ordination,  and 
was  on  the  stand  for  examination.  Just 
as  he  concluded,  a  messenger  arrived  with 
the  melancholy  tidings  of  the  death  of  his 
wife,  who  had  died  suddenly  that  morning, 
as  she  was  coming  to  the  ordination.  But 
it  seems  there  never  was  a  man  better 
prepared  for  such  a  stroke  than  he ;  for 
he  had  but,  as  it  were,  a  moment  before, 
made  a  public  offering  of  himself,  and  all 
that  he  had  to  God.  He  bore  the  shock 
with  christian  fortitude,  and  with  a  pa- 
tience becoming  a  minister  of  Christ 
Although  he  very  sensibly  felt  his  loss, 
and  mourned  much  for  the  wife  of  his 
youth,  yet  he  sorrowed  not  as  those  who 
have  no  hope.  She  was  a  pious  w  oman 
— *i  loving  companion — much  beloved  by 


BENJAMIN  KANDAL 


181 


her  acquaintance,  and  well  calculated  to 
draw  with  him  in  the  gospel  yoke.  His 
loss  was  great,  but  what  was  loss  to  him, 
was  gain  to  her.  The  meeting  now  clos- 
ed— his  ordination  was  postponed — and 
arrangements  were  made  for  the  funeral. 

3.  The  reformation  still  continued  to 
spread  in  New-Durham,  and  places  ad- 
jfeung ;  and  it  seems  by  the  records  that 
mc  calls  for  gcspel  labor  were  suchj  that 
Eld.  Randal  was  unable  to  leave  the 
ground.  For  there  is  no  mention  in  the 
the  minutes  of  his  attending  the  Edgcomb 
yearly  meeting,  as  usual.  But  it  seems 
that,  he  devoted  himself,  for  several  months 
about  that  time,  to  the  concerns  of  the 
church  of  New- Bur  ham,  and  of  what  was 
called  the  New-Durham  quarterly  moot- 
ing. He  attended  that  Q.  M.  in  October, 
and  served  as  clerk.  It  is  stated  that 
more  than  a  hundred  and  twenty  persons 
in  the  vicinity  of  New-Durham,  had  pro- 
fessed experimental  religion  since  the  9th 
of  June  then  past ;  and  that  twenty-nine 
of  them  had  been  baptized. 

4f.  Eld.  Randal  attended  ■  the  yearly 
meeting  in  Gorbam,  which  began  on  the 
46 


182 


THE   LIFE    0  3P 


3d  of  Nov.  following  ;  and  on  the  last  day 
of  the  same  meeting,  assisted  in  the  ordi- 
nation of  Ephraim  Stinchfieid  of  New- 
Gloucester,  Me.  The  ordination  was 
performed  in  the  following  order.  The 
candidate  delivered  a  weighty  testimony 
from  Isa.  liii.  5,  which  was  to  general  sat- 
isfaction. Eld.  J.  Buzzell  made  the  pre- 
vious prayer—- Eld.  Randal  gave 
charge — Eld.  Tingley  gave  the  right  mmcl  .1 
of  fellowship — Eld.  Z.  Leach  made  the 
concluding  prayer.  The  scene  was  sol- 
emn and  refreshing,  and  we  afterwards 
learned  that  one  soul  experienced  a  hope 
in  Christ,  in  consequence  of  hearing  the 
above  testimony. 

5.  Jan.  16*  1799,  Eld.  Randal  at- 
tended quarterly  meeting  in  Canterbury, 
N.  H.,  and  served  as  clerk.  Feb.  2,  3 
and  4,  he  attended  the  yearly  meeting 
at  Parsonsfield,  and  delivered  a  very  well 
adapted  and  powerful  sermon,  from  Song 
viii.  5.  "  Who  is  this  thai  cometh  up  from 
the  wilderness  leaning  upon  her  beloved." 
This  meeting  was  attended  by  many  of 
the  late  converts,  from  the  west ;  and  it 
being  a  time  of  great  revival  in  Parson* 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


field,  the  season  was  very  glorious. 
There  were  hundreds  present,  who  could 
say  that  Christ  was  their  beloved;  and 
that  they  were  coming  up  from  the  wilder- 
ness of  sin,  leaning  upon  him. 

CHAPTER  XXIII 

I.  Randal  attends  Q.  M.  and  Y.  M.  at' 
JV.  Durham.  2.  Attends  Y.  M.  at  Edg- 
comb — attends  Q.  M.  at  JV.  Durham — 
M.  Otis,  S.  Potter,  J.  Jackson,  J. 
Boody,  jr.  and  D.  ShacMey  ordained. 
3.  Attends  the  Gorham  Y.  JVJ.-J.  Blais- 
del  and  G.  Lord  ordained.  4>.  Goes 
to  Canterbury,  $c. 

1.  May  15,  1799,  Elder  Randal  at- 
tended the  quarterly  meeting  in  New- 
Durham  ;  but,  I  believe,  nothing  very 
special  took  place.    June  S,  9,  10  and 

II,  he  attended  yearly  meeting  in  the 
same  place,  which  was  a  very  glorious 
scene,  somewhat  similar  to  that  witnessed, 
in  the  town  the  year  before  on  the  same- 
occasion.    A  multitude  attended,  and  a 


I8i 


THE   LIFE  OF 


great  solemnity  rested  on  the  people. 
Many  shouted  in  praises  to  God  5  while 
others  were  pleading  with  Him  for  a  par- 
don of  their  sins.  On  the  3d  day  of  the 
meeting,  thirteen  souls  professed  to  expe- 
rience delivering  grace.  He  also  attended 
the  quarterly  meeting  at  New-Durham,  on 
the  21st  of  the  ensuing  August:  and,  at 
the  close  of  the  meeting,  assisted  in  the 
ordination  of  Joseph  Hall  of  Barrington 
to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder,  and  William 
Sanders  of  the  same  place  to  the  office  of 
Deacon. 

2.  After  the  close  of  the  above  meeting. 
Eld.  Randal  sat  out  again  for  Kennebeck, 
and  on  the  7th  of  September,  attended 
the  yearly  meeting  at  Woolwich,  Me. 
At  this  meeting,  after  much  consultation 
on  the  subject,  it  was  unanimously  agreed 
to  hold  an  Elders'  Conference  at  Parsons- 
field,  Me.,"HDn  Friday  before  the  lost  Fri- 
day in  the  same  month,  at  the  dwelling 
house  of  Eld.  John  Buzzell,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  deliberating  on  the  affairs  of  the 
Connexion ;  and  more  especially  for  the 
examination  of  public  gifts,  and  giving  and 
receiving  such  instructions  as  relate  to 


BENJAMIN    RANDAL.  185 

public  improvement,  both  in  preaching  the 
word  and  discipline  of  the  churches. 

Eld.  Randal,  therefore,  after  perform- 
ing his  usual  visits  in  the  eastern  country, 
returned  to  Parsonsfield,  and  attended 
the  Elders'  Conference.    This  was  the 
first  Elders5  Conference  held  by  the  Con- 
nexion ;  and  finding  it  profitable, -and  a 
Bktime  of  refreshing,  it  was  agreed  to  hold 
^^one  annually  at  the  same  place,  on  Friday 
after  the  first  Saturday  in  November.  This 
place  then  being  considered  nearly  in  the 
centre  of  the  whole  Connexion.  These 
meetings  have  since  been  kept  up,  tftotigij 
not  held  every  year  at  Parsonsfield,  as 
was  at  first  contemplated  ;  but  alternate- 
ly at  Parsonsfield  and  Gorliam,  or  Bux- 
ton, near  where  the  yearly  meeting  is 
held  a-t^hat  season  of  the  year.    It  was 
also  contemplated  and  intend^  at  first, 
that  this  should  have  been  &  general  Year- 
ly Conference,  (i.  e.)  that  all  the  Elders  iii 
the  Connexion  should  meet  annually  at 
this  place  for  the  above  purposes  ;  but 
soon  after  this  appointment,  it  was  thought 
proper  to  annex  an  Elders'  Conference  to 
every  quarterly  and  yearly  meeting  5  and 
16* 


186 


THE   LIFE  OF 


the  Elders  in  each  section,  attended  to 
their  own  Conference,  and  of  course  this 
was  no  more  general  than  the  rest.  But 
we  have  since  appointed  a  General  Year- 
ly Conference,  in  which  all  the  yearly 
meetings,  by  their  messengers,  are  to  rep- 
resent themselves  5  and  it  is  hoped  that  it 
will  prove  a  long  and  lasting  blessing  to 
the  Connexion.  To  return  to  my  narra- 
tive. Eld.  Randal  returned  from  Par- 
sonsfield  to  New-Durham,  and  on  the 
18th  of  October  attended  the  quarterly 
meeting  in  that  town,  and  assisted  in  the 
ordination  of  Micajah  Otis  of  Barring  ton 
— Simon  Pottle  of  Middleton — Dr.  James 
Jackson  of  Eaton — Joseph  Boody  of 
New-Durham,  to  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try 5  and  Daniel  Shackley  of  Berwick,  to 
the  office  of  Deacon. 

Eld.  Randal  delivered  an  appropriate 
discourse  cm  the  occasion  from  1  Cor.  ix. 
16.  "  For  though  I  preach  the  gospel,  I 
have  nothing  to  glory  of,  for  necessity  is 
laid  on  me  yea,  ivo  is  me  if  I  preach  not 
the  gospel."  He  also  gave  the  charge. 
Eld.  Daniel  Lord  prayed  at  the  laying  on 
of  hands,  and  gave  the  right-hand  of  fel- 


BE  N  J  A  M I  Pf  R  A  N  D  A  L . 


!owship.  Eld.  John  Shepherd  made  the 
concluding  prayer. 

3.  Nov.  2,  Eld.  Randal  attended  the 
yearly  meeting  at  Gorham,  and  after  the 
meeting  closed,  being  previously  chosen 
with  others  for  that  purpose,  he  returned 
to  Lebanon,  Me.,  and  on  the  20th  of  the 
same  month  assisted  in  the  ordination  of 
iJohn  Blaisdel  and  Gershem  Lord,  both 
of  that  town.  Eld.  Randal  preached  from- 
Mark  xvi.  15,  16.  "  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature  ;  He  that  belie  veth  and  is  bap* 
tized.  shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  beli  v- 
eth  not  shall  be  damned."  He  likewise 
gave  the  charge.  Eld.  Aaron  Buzzell 
made  the  first  prayer.  Eld.  Daniel  Lord 
prayed  at  the  laying  on  of  hands,  and  gave 
the  righkhand  of  fellowship;  and  Eld.  M. 
Otis  made  the  concluding  prayer^ 

4.  Jan.  15,  1800,  Eld.  RandaTwent  to 
Canterbury,  and  attended  a  quarterly 
meeting  ;  where  he  attended  to  much  bus- 
iness, and  was  much  refreshed  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  $  after  which  he  re- 
turned home,  and  as  it  appears  by  his 
record,  attended  to  the  reformation  wjpch 


THE   LIFE  01? 


was  then  gloriously  spreading  in  the  re- 
gion where  he  lived.  On  this  account  he 
did  not  attend  the  yearly  meeting  in  Feb- 
ruary? which  was  held  that  year  in  Anson, 
Me.  It  appears,  however,  that  he  soon 
after  took  a  journey  to  Vermont,  and  on 
the  10th  of  the  ensuing  March,  embodied 
a  church  in  the  town  of  Hard  wick,  county 
of  Caladonia.  Returning  from  thence,  he 
attended  the  May  Q.  M.  at  New-Iiamp- 
ton,  N.  II. j  and  from  thence  returned 
home,  having  seen  much  of  the  goodness 
of  God  in  the  journey. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

1.  RandaPs  tour  to  Marshfield,  Mass. 
2.  Goes  on  an  eastern  tour — attends 
Y.  M.  at  Woolwich,  $c.  3.  Attends 
Q.  M.  at  N  Durham,  and  Y.  M.  at 
Gorham.  4.  Visits  'New-Bradford  and 
Fishersjleld,  fyc. 

1.  July  28,  1800,  he  sat  out  on  a  south- 
ern journey,  accompanied  by  Samuel 
Avery.  They  stayed  the  first  night  at 
Por^moutb,  N,  H.,  and  the  m&fc  day 


B  E  N  J  A  M I  N    R  A  N  D  A  L  . 


189 


went  to  Newcastle  and  attended  a  meet- 
ing of  worship,  and  tarried  till  the  30th. 
From  thence  they  went  to  Scabrook,  and 
stayed  with  Mr.  Richard  Smith,  where 
they  were  very  kindly  entertained.  In 
the  evening  they  attended  a  meeting  with 
Elias  Hull,  a  Methodist,  and  enjoyed 
much  consolation.  July  31,  after  attend- 
ing prayer  with  Mr.  Smith  and  family, 
they  proceeded  to  Newburyport,  and  be- 
ing stopped  by  reason  of  a  great  rain,  they 
providentially  fell  in  with  some  religious 
friends  at  Rowley,  where  they  enjoyed 
a  wonderful  season  in  conversation  and 
prayer.  After  the  rain  abated  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Lynn,  where  they  tarried  all 
night.  The  next  morning  they  pursued 
their  journey,  and  made  some  stop  in  Bos- 
ton. From  thence  they  proceeded  to 
Marshfieid,  and  tarried  the  first  night  with 
deacon  Hatch.  They  spent  the  evening 
in  prayer  and  thanksgiving.  The  next 
day,  Aug.  2,  they  held  a  meeting  at  the 
dwelling-house  of  Nathan  Thomas.  Eld. 
Randal  preached  from  2  Cor.  xii.  8,  9. 
"  We  had,"  says  he,  4;  a  refreshing  time.'* 
4ug.  3,  being  Sabbath,  he  preached  at 


¥HE    LIFE  Of 


the  dwelling-house  of  deacon  -Hatch,  from 
Acts  xvi.  30,  31.  This  he  says,  "  was  a 
very  tender,  melting  season.-9  Aug.  4», 
in  the  forenoon,  they  visited  several  fami- 
lies ;  and  in  the  afternoon,  he  preached  at 
Capt.  Luke  Ball's,  from  Heh.  iv.  7. 
"  Jlgain  he  limiieih  a  certain  day,  saying 
in  David,  To-day,  after  so  long  a  time  ; 
as  it  is  said  to-day,  if  ye  ivill  hear  his 
voice,  harden  not  your  hearts."  Here 
he  says,  "  The  word  was  quick  and  pow- 
erful. Great  solemnity  rested  on  the  peo- 
ple, and  almost  the  whole  assembly  ap- 
peared to  be  melted  into  tears ;  several 
stout-hearted  sinners  were  struck  under 
solemn  conviction."  Aug.  6,  he  attended 
monthly  meeting  with  the  church  in  that 
place.  After  hearing  the  members  relate 
their  experience,  deacon  Prince  Hatch, 
who  had  previously  been  a  deacon  of  a 
Calvinistic  Baptist  church  in  the  same 
town,  publicly  offered  himself,  and  w  as  re- 
ceived as  a  member  of  the  Freewill  Bap- 
tist church. 

Aug.  7,  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  Eld. 
Randal  was  very  unwell,  but  in  the  af- 
tor  part,  so  far  recovered,  a&to  preach> 


BENJAMIN  RANfiAL. 


191 


He  spake  from  Heb.  v.  9.  "  And  being 
made  perfect,  he  became  the  author  of 
eternal  salvation  unto  all  them  that  obey 
him."  Aug.  8,  he  preached  again,  from 
Psalms  Ixxxix.  15.  "  Blessed  is  the  peo- 
ple that  know  the  joyful  sound  :  they  shall 
walk,  O  Lord,  in  the  light  of  thy  counte- 
nance." He  then  repaired  to  the  water, 
and  baptized  Scoble  Baker. 

Aug.  9,  he  spent  the  day  in  visiting  the 
families  in  the  vicinity,  and  in  the  evening 
attended  a  prayer  meeting,  which  contin- 
ued till  two  o'clock  the  next  morning 
This  meeting  was  at  Abel  Thomas'. 
Here  he  also  remarks,  that  he  had  a  very 
comfortable  interview  with  Capt.  Isaac 
Porter,  he  being  under  great  impressions 
in  respect  to  the  cause  of  God,  and  trav- 
ail of  Zion.  Aug.  10,  they  met  for  wor- 
ship and  communion.  He  mentions  in 
his  journal,  that  as  soon  as  the  people  as- 
sembled, the  power  of  God  fell  on  all  pres- 
ent ;  and  the  brethren  fell  on  their  knees, 
and  continued  in  prayer  one  after  another, 
for  a  considerable  time.  After  which,  sev- 
eral of  them  spake  very  pointedly  and 
powerfully   by   exhortation,      He  then 


W2 


THE   LIFE  OF 


preached  from  Mat.  xxv.  6.  u  And  at  mid- 
night  there  teas  a  cry  made^  Behold,  the 
bridegroom  cometh  $  go  ye  out  to  meet 
him."  In  the  afternoon  he  spake  from 
Rev.  xxii.  17.  "And  whosoever  will)  let 
him  take  the  water  of  life  freely^  He 
say%  c*  We  then  sat  down  at  the  commun- 
ion table,  and  had  a  very  melting  season.55 
Aug.  11,  he  preached  from  Heb.  ii.  9. 
"  But  we  see  Jesus,  who  for  the  suffering  41 
of  death,  crowned  with  glory  and  honor  ; 
that  he  by  the  grace  of  God  should  taste 
death  for  every  man."  Here,  he  observes, 
that  the  power  of  God  was  also  displayed, 
sinners  trembled,  saints  rejoiced,  and  one 
soul  experienced  saving  grace.  Aug.  12, 
he  went  to  Scituate,  a  neighboring  town, 
and  attended  a  meeting  at  Abijah  Brown5 s, 
and  in  the  evening  another  at  the  widow 
Northey5s  5  but  nothing  special  took 
place. 

Aug.  13,  he  returned  to  Marshfield,  and 
attended  an  evening  meeting,  in  which  he 
says,  "  We  enjoyed  some  comfort.55  Aug. 

14,  he  spent  in  visiting  the  people.  Aug. 

15,  in  the  afternoon^  he  preached  from 
]  John  iv.  9.  "  In  this  teas  manifest  the 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


19$ 


love  of  God  towards  us,  because  that  God 
sent  his  only  begotten  son  into  the  world, 
that  we  might  live  through  him."  Aug, 
16,  he  spent  chiefly  in  writing.  Aug.  17, 
he  preached  from  Isaiah  vi.  11.  They 
then  took  their  leave  of  the  brethren  at 
Marshfield,  and  went  to  Scituate.  They 
attended  a  prayer  meeting  that  evening  at 
Abijah  Brown's,  with  a  number  of  tender 
people  ;  and  the  next  morning,  Aug.  18, 
they  sat  out  for  home.  They  arrived  that 
eight  at  Andover,  and  on  the  19th,  arri- 
ved at  Brentwood,  where  he  had  an  agree- 
able interview  with  his  old  friend,  Doct. 
Samuel  Shepherd,  the  minister  of  that 
place.  From  thence,  they  went  to  Not- 
tingham, and  tarried  with  Moses  Davis. 
Aug.  20,  they  proceeded  to  Pittsfield,  N. 
H.,  and  attended  a  quarterly  meeting, 
which  continued  two  days,  and  which 
u  Was  a  remarkable  season,  on  account 
of  the  manifestation  of  divine  power.9' 
Aug.  22,  in  the  afternoon,  he  returned 
home,  and  found  his  family  ail  well. 

2.  Elder  Randal  now  stayed  what  he 
called  at  home,  ten  days  ;  In  which  time, 
it  appears  by  his  diary,  he  attended  nine 
17 


THE    LIFE  OF 


public  meetings,  and  spent  the  greater  part 
of  the  intermediate  time  in  visiting  his 
flock.  On  the  2d  of  September  he  sat  out 
on  an  eastern  tour,  and  on  the  6th  of  the 
same  month  attended  the  yearly  meeting 
at  Woolwich,  Me.,  a  distance  of  about  120 
miles.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  they 
had  a  communion.  He  preached  from 
2  Cor.  iii.  17.  "Now  the  Lord  is  that 
spirit,  and  ichere  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  is3 
there  is  liberty."  He  then  performed  his 
usual  visits  in  that  region,  and  returned. 
He  was  gone  from  home  one  month  and 
three  days  ;  travelled  574  miles,  and  at- 
tended 61  meetings. 

S.  October  15,  he  attended  the  New7- 
Durham  quarterly  meeting,  and  on  the 
1st  day  of  November  attended  the  yearly 
meeting  at  Gorham.  This  meeting  con- 
tinued three  days.  The  first  day,  they 
attended  to  business — the  second,  to  wor- 
ship. He  preached  from  Rom.  viii.  6. 
"  For  to  be  carnally  minded  is  death  $  but 
to  be  spiritually  minded  is  life  and  peace." 
The  third  day  he  assisted  in  the  ordina- 
tion of  Thos.  Wilber.  From  thence  he 
returned  home,  and  continued  in  his  own 
region  about  one  month. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


195 


4>.  December  9,  he  sat  out  on  a  journey 
to  New-Bradford  and  Fishersiield,  N.  EL 
being  accompanied  by  Joseph  Hall  and 
Wm.  Sanders  of  Barrington.  He  was 
gone  from  home  on  this  journey  twenty 
two  days  only ;  in  which  time  he  rode 
about  200  miles,  and  attended  15  public 
meetings.  In  New-Bradford,  on  the  15th 
of  December,  he  baptized  David  and 
Lydia  Fisk,  and  Gardiner  Palmer.  Af- 
ter performing  the  above  journey,  he  re- 
turned, and  on  the  25th  of  December  at- 
tended a  meeting  at  his  own  house.  He 
then  continued  about  home  26  days,  in 
which  time,  he  went  one  journey  to  Ports- 
mouth, N.  II.,  and  attended  19  public 
meetings,  besides  repeatedly  visiting  the 
sick. 

From  the  above  sketches,  the  candid 
reader  will  have  some  faint  idea  of  the 
indefatigable  labors,  and  unwearied  pains' 
of  this  good  man,  to  spread  the  knowledge 
of  salvation  among  his  fellow  men  ;  and 
to  build  up  the  kingdom  of  the  blessed 
Immanuel  in  the  world.  The  writer  pre- 
sumes, that  if  all  those  who  are  called 
the  ministers  of  Christ,  were  to  feel  the 


196 


THE   LIFE  OF 


same  love  to  the  cause,  that  he  did,  and 
to  possess  the  same  zeal  for  its  promotion, 
and  in  proportion  to  their  abilities,  exerted 
themselves  to  the  same  degree  that  he 
did,  in  public  and  private,  the  world  would 
soon  be  evangelized.  But,  alas  !  we 
-3 well  too  much  in  our  ceiled  houses. , 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

1.  Randal  attends  Q.  M.  at  Gilmanton, 
fyc. — attends  Y.  M.  at  Parsonsjield. 
2.  Makes  a  tour  to  the  east.  3.  Preach- 
es at  Wolf  borough,  <fyc.  4.  Visits  the 
churches  in  the  lower  towns. 

Jan.  20,  1801,  Elder  Randal  sat  out 
to  attend  the  quarterly  meeting  at  Gilman- 
ton,  and  rode  through  a  most  violent 
storm,  but  was  wonderfully  preserved  by 
the  providence  of  God.  This  meeting 
continued  three  days,  and  was  considered 
by  him  a  time  of  refreshing  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord.  Jan.  24,  he  returned, 
and  continued  about  home  till  the  2d 
of  Feb.,  in  which  time  he  attended  four 
meetings,  besides  making  several  visits 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  197 

among  his  neighbors.  Feb.  3,  he  sat  out 
for  Portsmouth  on  business,  and  return- 
ed home  on  the  5th.  On  the  next  day,  he 
left  home  to  attend  the  yearly  meeting  at 
Parsonsfleld.  He  sat  in  the  meeting  the 
7th,  8th,  and  9th  of  Feb;  $  and  in  the 
time  preached  at  Amos  Blazo's  an  inter- 
esting discourse.  Feb.  10,  he  left  Par- 
sonsfield and  went  to  Limington,  where  he 
preached  that  evening  at  a  Friend  .Jack- 
son's, and  the  next  day  at  a  Br.  Strom/ s. 
From  thence,  he  rode  to  Standish,  tarried 
two  days  and  preached  twice.  From 
'  thence  he  went  to  Gorham  and  attended  a 
meeting  at  the  widow  Sarah  Thombs', 
The  next  day  being  very  stormy,  he  was 
detained  from  travelling,  and  went  to  work 
at  his  trade  and  made  a  garment  for  one 
of  the  family.  In  the  evening,  lie  attend- 
ed a  meeting  of  worship.  Feb.  17,  he 
visited  several  families,  and  in  the  evening 
attended  a  meeting  at  Daniel  Baker's. 
Feb.  18,  in  the  evening  he  attended  a  meet- 
ing at  George  flundscom's,  which,  says 
he,  "  Was  a  powerful  season  ;  both  saints 
and  sinners  were  much  affected."  Feb. 
19,  he  returned  to  Standish,  and  in  the 
17* 


198 


Till!   LIFE  OP 


evening  preached  at  Sargent  Shaw's.  A 
great  number  of  people  attended,  and 
great  conviction  appeared  to  be  on  the 
minds  of  many.  He  then  returned  to  Gor- 
ham.  On  the  20th,  he  attended  another 
meeting  at  Wid.  Thombs'.  Feb.  21,  he 
went  again  to  Standish,  and  on  the  2£d, 
being  Sabbath,  he  again  preached  at  Sar- 
gent Shaw's.  In  the  forenoon  he  spake 
from  John  v.  3.  "  Search  the  Scriptures  y 
for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life  i 
and  they  are  they  which  testify  of  me."— 
In  the  afternoon  from  Rev.  xxii.  17.  "And 
whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water  of 
life  freely." — In  the  evening  from  Mat.  v. 
6.  "Blessed  are  they  which  do  hunger 
and  thirst  after  righteousness :  for  they 
shall  be  filled."  The  word  had  a  won- 
derful effect  on  the  hearers.  Feb.  23,  he 
left  Standish  and  returned  to  Limington. 
Here  he  tarried  one  day,  and  then  return- 
ed  home,  praising  God  for  his  preserving 
mercies,  and  abounding  goodness  to  the 
children  of  men. 

2.  March  6,  he  sat  out  on  another  jour- 
ney to  the  east,  to>  attend  the  marriage  of 
his  son  Benjamin.    He  arrived  on  the 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


199 


10th,  and  the  marriage  was  solemnized  on 
the  12th  of  March.  He  then  visited  the 
churches  in  that  region,  and  preached  at 
Edgcomb,  Squam  Island  and  Woolwich. 
On  his  return,  he  stopped  in  Gorham  and 
preached  twice.  He  remarks,  that  as  he 
was  returning  through  Newfield,  it  being 
night,  and  there  having  been  a  great  rain, 
he  came  to  a  long  causeway,  which  was 
afloat^  and  he  and  those  that  wero  witk 
him,  had  to  wade  about  in  the  water  for 
some  time  before  they  could  find  the  way 
over.  They,  however,  got  over  at  last, 
and  went  to  Esq.  Drew's,  where  he  was 
always  kindly  received,  and  well  enter*-  ' 
tained.  March  24,  he  arrived  at  his  own 
house,  and  found  his  family  well. 

He  tarried  about  home  15  days,  in 
which  time,  he  preached  the  gospel  to  the 
inhabitants  of  that  region,  visited  the  side, 
&,c.  He  particularly  mentions  Mother 
Runnels,  and  a  Susan  Willey,  who  were 
very  sick  at  that  time ;  but  remarkably 
happy  in  their  minds,  and  desiring  for  their 
eternal  home. 

3.  April  9,  he  went  to  Wolf  borough 
and  attended  a  monthly  meeting  with  the 


THE   LIFE  OF 


church  in  that  place.  April  10,  he  at- 
tended a  meeting  of  worship  in  the  fore- 
noon, and  in  the  afternoon,  a  religious 
conference.  In  the  evening  he  preached 
at  Eld.  Townsend's.  April  11,  he  preach- 
ed at  a  hrother  Jones5.  April  12,  he 
preached  in  New-Durham.  April  13,  he 
went  to  Pittsfield,  and  attended  a  meeting 
with  the  church  in  that  town.  April  14,  he 
preached  in  their  meeting-house ;  after 
which,  he  repaired  to  the  water  and  bap-, 
tized  Hannah  Moulton.  In  the  evening- 
he  attended  a  meeting  at  Jabez  Tucker's, 
April  15,  he  went  to  Nottingham  and  at- 
tended a  meeting  of  worship  at  Moses  Da- 
vis'. April  16,  being  public  fast,  he  went 
to  Northwood  and  preached,  and  baptized 
David  Sawyer  of  Deerfield.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Pittsfield,  and  the  next  morning, 
April  17,  he  went  to  the  water  and  bap- 
tized Sarah  Marston  and  Jane  Clough. 
At  two  o'clock,  P.  M.  he  again  attended 
a  meeting  in  the  meeting-house,  and  in 
the  evening  had  a  meeting  at  John  True's. 
April  18,  he  returned  home.  April  28, 
he  visited  Susan  Willey,  found  her  very 
low  in  bodily  healthy  but  said  she  appear- 


BE  ST  J  A  M I  N    K  ANDAL. 


30* 


ed  to  be  the  most  in  heaveirof  any  person 
he  ever  saw  upon  earth. 

4.  April  £9,  Elder  Randal,  having 
made  the  necessary  arrangements  at  home, 
sat  out  to  visit  the  churches  in  the  lower 
towns,  viz:  Portsmouth,  Newcastle,  Ber- 
wick and  Somersworth.  He  preached  in 
all  those  places  in  the  course  of  the  jour- 
ney, and  attended  a  church  meeting  in 
each.  He  remarks,  that  he  saw  much  of 
the  power  and  glory  of  God  in  all  the 
meetings  he  attended.  May  9,  he  return- 
ed ;  and  being  informed  of  the  death  of 
the  above  named  Susan  Willey,  who  di- 
ed the  3d  day  of  the  same  month,  and  also 
of  the  death  of  a  colored  man  by  the 
name  of  Sambo,  who  lived  in  the  same 
town,  and  died  the  same  day  ;  the  next 
Sabbath,  he  preached  a  sermon  adapted 
to  the  occasion,  from  Luke  xvi.  22.  "  And 
it  came  to  pass  that  the  beggar  died,  and 
was  carried  by  angels  m/o  Abraham? s  bo- 

mm.** 


202 


THE    LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

1.  Randal  attends  New-Hampton  Q.  M. 

and  witnesses  an  extraordinary  season  $ 
— after  visiting  several  towns  ^  returns 
home.  2.  Visits  Gilmanton  and  Not- 
tingham— attends  F.  JVI.,  3.  Visits 
Sandwich^  fyc— preaches  at  Middleton^ 
tyc.  4.  Visits  Springfield  and  Weth<~ 
ers field,  Vt.  and  embodies  2  churches — 
attends  Q.  M.  at  Gilmanton. 

1.  May  14,  Eld.  Randal  went  to  Gil- 
manton, and  attended  a  monthly  meeting 
with  the  church  in  that  place.  The  next 
day  he  preached  in  the  Baptist  meeting 
house,  with  some  good  effect.  May  18, 
he  sat  out  for  New-Hampton,  in  order  to 
attend  the  quarterly  meeting.  He  tarried 
the  first  night  with  Eld.  Joseph  Young,  of 
Gilmanton.  May  19,  he  proceeded  to 
Meredith,  and  took  dinner  at  a  brother 
Crocket's,  where  he  met  about  40  breth- 
ren, bound  to  the  same  meeting.  After 
dinner  they  rode  as  far  as  Benjamin 
Pease's,  where  they  attended  a  meeting 
in  an  orchard-    The  next  morning,  May 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


20,  they  proceeded  to  the  meeting,  They 
rode  in  regular  procession.  There  were 
about  80  horses,  which  carried  about  a 
hundred  persons — all  professors  of  reli- 
gion, and  probably  of  the  same  sentiments. 
As  they  drew  near  to  the  meeting-house, 
they  united  in  singing  an  appropriate  and 
very  solemn  hymn,  winch  had  a  surprising 
effect  on  the  beholders.  Many  of  the 
spectators  were  so  struck  with  the  scene, 
that  like  Bart  emu  s9  they  cried,  "  Jesus, 
thou  sen  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me!" 
While  many  of  the  lovers  of  Jesus,  who 
were  collected,  being  filled  with  ecstatic 
joy,  praised  God  for  redeeming  love.  Be- 
ing collected  they  sat  for  business,  and  al- 
though there  were  as  many  as  500  mem- 
bers present,  and  a  great  multitude  of 
spectators,  the  most  beautiful  order  was 
observed  through  the  whole.  On  the  2d 
4ay  of  the  meeting,  May  21,  they  assem- 
bled for  worship  and  communion,  "  The 
scene,"  says  he,  was  "  indiscribably  glori- 
ous." He  closes  his  account  of  the  meet- 
ing with  the  following  lines. 

"  If  here  so  sweet — if  here  we  prove 

Seraphic  joy — celestial  love  ; 

In  heaven  what  will  be  found  ?" 


SHE   LIFE  09 


May  22,  he  went  to  Bridgewater,  ex- 
amined their  church  records,  and  preach- 
ed twice.  May  24,  he  returned  to  New-* 
Hampton,  and  it  being  Sabbath,  he 
preached  from  Acts  xvi.  30,  31.  66  And 
brought  them  out,  and  said,  sirs,  what 
must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  And  they  said, 
believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou 
shalt  be  saved,  and  thy  house."  This 
was  also  a  time  of  refreshing.  May  25, 
he  went  to  Meredith,  preached  at  B* 
Pease's  ;  and  again  in  the  evening  at  the 
same  place.  One  soul  professed  to  expe- 
rience delivering  grace  at  this  meeting. 
May  27}  he  went  to  Gilmanton,  preached 
at  John  Bean's  ;  and  on  the  28th,  preach- 
ed at  Joseph  Osgood's ;  and  at  the  close 
of  the  meeting,  baptized  James  Buzzell, 
May  29,  he  went  to  Loudon,  and  preach- 
ed at  Thomas  Swett's.  On  the  30th  he 
returned  home,  praising  God  for  his  good- 
ness, and  his  wonderful  works  to  the  chil- 
dren of  men. 

2.  Eld.  Randal,  having  tarried  with  his 
family  two  days,  returned  to  Gilmanton, 
and  attended  a  church  meeting  at  or  near 
Eld.  John  Shepard'fij  and  mentions  that 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


205 


one  of  said  Shepard's  daughters  was  hope- 
fully converted.  June  5,  he  went  to  Not- 
tingham, and  attended  the  funeral  of  An- 
na, wife  of  Moses  Davis,  a  valuable  mem- 
ber of  the  church  of  Christ.  June  13,  14, 
and  15,  he  attended  the  yearly  meeting 
in  New- Durham  5  and  on  the  16th,  bap- 
tized Daniel  Stevens,  who  is  now  the  dea- 
con of  that  church. 

June  24,  he  made  another  visit  to  Gil- 
manton,  and  preached  at  Eld.  John  Shep- 
ard's. He  spake  from  John  v.  25.  "  Ver- 
ily, verily,  I  say  unto  you,  The  hour  is 
coming,  and  noiv  is,  ivhen  the  dead  shall 
hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  they 
thai  hear  shall  live."  This  discourse  was 
remarkably  sanctified  to  the  audience. 
Many  of  the  brethren  were  quickened, 
and  bore  public  testimony  to  the  truth 
they  had  heard,  and  exhorted  their  neigh- 
bors, in  a  most  powerful  manner,  to 
hearken  to  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God, 
June  25,  he  went  to  Loudon,  and  preach- 
ed at  Thomas  Swett?s.  He  spake  from 
Mat.  xx.  6.  "  And  about  the  eleventh  hour 
he  went  out,  and  found  others  standing 
idle,  and  saith  unto  them?  Why  stavid  ye. 
18 


206 


THE   LIFE  OF 


idle  all  the  day?"  "This,"  he  says*, 
6i  was  a  very  glorious  day."  The  word 
took  great  hold  on  those  who  had  been 
neglecters  of  the  great  salvation,  and  also 
proved^quickening  to  In  ke- warm  profes- 
sors. June  26,  he  returned  to  Gilmanton, 
and  attended  a  church  conference  $  and 
on  the  27th,  preached  in  the  Baptist  meet- 
ing-house, in  the  east  part  of  the  town  ; 
from  thence  he  returned  home. 

3.  Eld.  Randal  now  tarried  with  his 
family  two  days,  and  on  June  30,  went  to 
Sandwich,  and  on  July  1,  attended  a 
church  meeting  with  the  brethren  in  that 
place.  July  2,  he  preached  at  Nathaniel 
Weeds  ;  and  the  day  following  at  Sand- 
wich meeting-house.  July  4,  he  went  to 
Burton,  and  preached  at  deacon  Daniel 
Head's.  July  5,  being  Sabbath,  he 
preached  again  at  the  same  place,  and 
baptized  Hannah  George;  after  which  he 
returned  to  the  place  of  worship,  and  ad- 
ministered the  Lord's  supper,  and  washing 
of  the  saints'  feet.  July  6,  he  went  to 
Eaton,  and  preached  from  John  vii.  37, 
with  very  good  effect.  July  7,  he  return- 
ed  home.    He  remarks  in  his  diary.,  that 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


207 


hi  all  the  above  mentioned  places  he  saw 
much  of  the  power  and  glory  of  God,  both 
in  the  awakening  of  sinners,  reclaiming  of 
backsliders,  and  comforting  of  God's  peo- 
ple. July  13,  he  preached  at  Middleton 
meeting-house,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
meeting  baptized  Thomas  and  John  York. 
July  19,  he  preached  at  Somersworth, 
and  from  thence  visited  Dover,  Ports- 
mouth, Newcastle,  &c.  But  mentions 
nothing  very  special  which  took  place  in 
the  journey. 

4.  Aug.  5,  he  commenced  a  western 
tour,  in  which  he  visited  Louden,  Can- 
terbury, Sutton  and  Unity,  N.  H.  He 
preached  in  all  those  towns,  as  lie  passed 
from  place  to  place.  Aug.  9,  he  attended 
a  church  meeting  in  Unity.  Aug.  10,  he 
crossed  Connecticut  river,  and  preached 
in  Weathersneld,  Vt.  Aug.  12,  he  went 
to  Springfield,  Vt.,  and  embodied  two 
churches  5  one  under  the  charge  of  Eld. 
William  S.  Babcock,  consisting  of  75 
members  ;  the  other  under  the  charge  of 
Eld.  Stephen  Place,  consisting  of  21 
members.  Aug.  13,  he  returned  to  Uni- 
ty, and  attended  another  meeting  'with 


208 


THE   LIFE  OF 


them,  which  was  a  very  comfortable  sea- 
son. Aug.  14,  he  went  to  Fishersfield, 
N.  H.,  visited  Eld.  Timothy  Morse,  and 
preached  a  sermon  from  Ps.  xci.  1,  but 
says,  "  I  had  a  very  lean  and  barren  meet- 
ing." The  next  day,  he  went  to  Brad- 
ford, N.  H.  and  attended  their  church 
meeting  5  after  which  he  preached  a  ser- 
mon, and  at  the  close  baptized  seven  per- 
sons. "  This,"  he  says,  "  was  a  blessed 
season."  Aug.  16,  he  preached  at  the 
south  meeting-house  in  Sutton,  after  which 
he  baptized  one.  The  next  day,  he  at- 
tended their  church  conference;  and  in 
the  afternoon  held  a  meeting  of  w  orship, 
and  enjoyed  great  freedom  in  speaking. 
Aug.  18,  he  left  Sutton,  and  on  the  19th 
and  £Qih,  attended  the  quarterly  meeting 
in  Gilmanton  ;  and  on  the  21st,  attended 
the  Elders'  Conference,  which  he  consid- 
ered a  very  profitable  season. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL 


209 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

1.  Randal  attends  Y.  M.  in  Belgrade- 
preaches  in  several  towns.  2.  Visits  a 
sister  on  her  death-bed,  fyc. —  Visits 
Parker's  Island  and  Bristol.  3.  Re- 
visits Squam  Island  and  Woolwich- 
returns  home.  4.  The  ma  rriage  of  his 
daughter ,  fyc. 

I.  Sept.  1,  1801,  Eld.  Randal  sat  out 
on  another  eastern  tour  in  order  to  attend 
the  September  yearly  meeting,  which  was 
holden  that  year  at  Belgrade,  Me.  He 
arrived  on  the  4th,  and  the  meeting  com- 
menced on  the  5tb,  and  continued  three 
days.  Sept.  S,  he  preached  at  Sidney,  an 
adjacent  town  ;  but  I  believe  nothing  very 
extraordinary  took  place.  Sept.  9,  he 
returned  to  Belgrade,  and  attended  the 
Elders'  Conference ;  and  from  thence 
went  to  Halloweil,  and  attended  a  meet- 
in;  in  a  school-house,  at  a  place  then 
called  Balling  Hill.  From  this  place  he 
proceeded  to  Woolwich,  and  preached  at 
John  Card's.  Sept.  12,  he  went  to  Edg- 
comb,  and  preached  in  the  meeting-house 
18* 


THE   LIFE  OF 


at  Squam  Island,  and  in  the  evening,  a* 
Eld.  D.  Hillard's.  Sept.  14,  he  went  to 
Parker's  Island,  and  preached  at  Capt.  J. 
Barter's.  "  It  was  a  blessed  tender  sea- 
son." Sept.  15,  he  preached  at  Boothbay 
in  the  forenoon,  afternoon  and  evening. 
u  It  was  a  very  wonderful  meeting.  Many 
souls  were  much  awakened — backsliders 
returned — sinners  cried  to  God  for  mercy, 
&,c."  Sept.  6,  he  preached  in  a  school- 
house  at  Edgcomb,  from  Rev.  iii.  20. 
"Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock  $ 
if  any  man  will  hear  my  voice,  and  tvill 
open  the  door,  J  will  come  in  to  him,  and 
will  sup  with  him,  and  he  icith  me.'* 
Here  he  also  observes,  that  the  power  of 
the  Lord  was  greatly  manifested  ;  and 
that  many  souls  were  awakened,  and  that 
almost  every  person  in  the  assembly  was 
in  tears.  It  is  hoped  that  some,  who  never 
before  opened  the  doors  of  their  hearts  to 
Christ,  opened  them  to  him  that  evening. 

2.  Sept.  17,  he  visited  several  families^ 
and  among  others,  visited  a  sister  Welch, 
a  very  pious  woman.  He  found  her  in 
the  struggles  of  death.  He,  therefore, 
prayed  with  the  afflicted  family?  and  re 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


211 


paired  to  Wesibrook  Knight's,  where  he 
attended  a  prayer  meeting  with  the  people 
in  that  neighborhood,  in  which  they  en- 
joyed much  consolation.  Sept.  IS,  he 
went  to  Cape  Newaggen  Island,  then  so 
called,  and  preached  at  Robert  Reed's. 
In  this  meeting  one  soul  professed  to  ex- 
perience refreshing  grace,  which  gave  him 
great  joy.  Sept.  19,  he  returned  to  Edg- 
comb  and  attended  the  funeral  of  Sarah 
Welch.  He  preached  from  Job  xiv.  14. 
u  If  a  man  die,  shall  he  live  again  ?  all 
the  clays  of  my  appointed  time  will  I  wait) 
fill  my  change  comes." 

Sept.  20,  he  went  to  Parker's  Island, 
it  being  Sabbath,  and  preached  three  ser- 
mons, under  which  many  were  pricked  in 
their  hearts,  and  cried  to  God  for  mercy. 
Some  obtained  witness  that  he  had  forgiv- 
en their  sins.  The  next  morning,  very 
early,  the  people  assembled  at  the  same 
place,  and  two  that  experienced  a  change 
of  heart,  and  were  brought  to  the  banquet 
of  grace  the  night  before,  came  and  offer- 
ed themselves  for  baptism ;  namely,  Wid, 
fsarah  Cooms  and  Wid.  Joanna  Marrs. 
He  then  repaired  to  the  water  and  baptiz- 


212 


THE   LIF£  OP 


ed  them.  u  It  was  a  joyful  season."  The 
same  day,  Sept.  21,  he  went  to  Woolwich, 
and  preached  at  Josiah  Brooking' s.  Here 
he  met  three  men  that  were  brothers,  who 
had  come  with  a  vessel  from  Bristol,  to 
carry  him  to  that  place,  a  distance  of 
about  31  miles,  and  they  refused  to  return 
without  him.  He,  therefore,  next  morn- 
ing, Sept.  22,  like  Peter  on  a  similar  oc- 
casion, went  without  gainsaying.  He  ar- 
rived at  Bristol  that  evening  5  and  the 
next  day,  Sept.  23,  he  attended  meeting 
all  day  at  a  school-house;  and  says,  "  It 
was  a  comfortable  refreshing  day,"  In 
the  evening  he  went  to  Ratherford's  Isl- 
and, and  preached  at  Miles  Thompson's. 
This  he  considered  a  very  comfortable 
season.  Sept.  2i,  he  preached  at  the 
school-house  in  Bristol,  and  administered 
the  Lord's  supper,  and  the  saints  washed 
feet  5  all  of  which  was  attended  with  ev- 
ident manifestations  of  divine  power. 
Saints  shouted  for  joy,  and  sinners  trem- 
bled under  a  view  of  their  deplorable  con- 
dition. In  the  evening,  he  went  to  Pen- 
nequid  Island,  and  preached  at  Col.  Mc 
Intire's.    Sept.  25,  he  went  to  Boothbay 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


213 


barber,  and  held  a  meeting  at  Mr.  Nor- 
wood's^ where  he  also  saw  the  wonderful 
work  of  God,  in  the  conviction  and  con- 
version of  sinners. 

3.  Sept.  28,  he  returned  to  Squam  Isl- 
and, and  preached.  "  It  was,55  says  he, 
u  a  time  that  will  be  long  remembered.55 
Sept.  27,  he  west  back  to  Woolwich^ 
where  he  preached  in  the  forenoon,  after- 
noon and  evening.  Sept.  28,  he  went  ta 
Brunswick,  and  from  thence  the  next  day 
he  went  to  Gorham,  and  the  day  following 
he  went  to  Limington,  and  called  to  see 
Mrs.  Lions,  a  natural  sister.  He  found 
her  in  great  trouble,  having  lately  buried 
her  husband.  After  spending  a  short 
time  with  her-,  he  proceeded  to  Newfield, 
and  put  up  with  Elijah  Drew,  Esq.  The 
next  day,  Oct.  1,  he  arrived  at  his  own 
house,  and  once  more,  through  the  abound- 
ing goodness  of  God,  found  his  family  all 
well.  He  then  tarried  at  home,  or  about 
home,  six  days,  preaching  and  visiting 
among  his  neighbors.  Oct.  8,  he  went  to 
Dover,  the  next  day  to  Portsmouth  and 
Newcastle,  and  the  day  following  return- 
ed home,    He  then  tarried  about  home 


THE   LIFE  OF 


ten  days  5  but  spent  the  principal  part  of 
the  time  in  preaching,  and  visiting  his 
flock.  Oct.  21,  he  went  to  Gilmanton 
and  attended  the  quarterly  meeting,  which 
continued  till  the  24th. 
f  4.  Oct.  29,  he  had  a  meeting  of  wor- 
ship at  his  own  house,  in  the  course  of 
which,  he  solemnized  the  marriage  be- 
tween Mr.  Stephen  Parsons  of  Edgcomb, 
Me.  and  Miss  Margaretta  Frederick  Ran- 
dal9  his  second  daughter.  This  scene  was 
truly  solemn  and  joyful ;  all  the  connec- 
tions being  highly  pleased  with  the  matri- 
monial contract.  The  nuptials  being  sol- 
emnized by  a  most  affectionate  parent, 
who  not  only  pronounced  the  legal  cere- 
mony with  emphasis,  but  in  the  most  fer- 
vant  manner  implored  the  divine  blessings 
of  the  upper  and  nether  Springs,  to  rest 
upon  the  newly  married  pair;  and  to  be 
perpetuated  to  their  offspring  for  ever. 
These  prayers,  I  trust,  have  been  heard, 
and  the  blessings  thus  far  conferred.  Nov. 
4,  having  made  ready  for  the  removal  of 
his  daughter,  he  accompanied  her  to  Do- 
ver, where  a  schooner  was  waiting  to  re- 
f  eive  her  goods.    He  tarried  with  her  till 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL.  215 

the  vessel  sailed,  which  was  not  until  the 
10th.  He  then  took  his  leave  of  his 
daughter,  and  after  making  several  friend- 
ly visits  by  the  way,  returned  home.  The 
reader  must,  however,  understand  that 
the  writer  has  necessarily  omitted  a  great 
many  things,  noted  in  the  Elder's  diary, 
relative  to  short  journies  and  friendly  vis- 
its, where  he  enjoyed  many  precious  sea- 
sons, lest  he  should  swell  the  volume  to 
too  great  a  size,  and  weary  the  public 
wiih  a  lengthy  detail  of  minute  circum- 
stances attending  the  travels  of  this  inde- 
fatigable gospel  laborer  ;  and  has  attend- 
ed most  particularly  to  the  accounts  of 
iiis  lengthy  tours,  and  more  public  acts, 
which  he  considers  of  the  most  importance 
to  the  community  at  large  5  and  the  most 
interesting  to  his  peculiar  surviving 
friends.  And  as  the  writer  expects  that 
the  name  of  Randal,  as  an  instrument 
of  so  great  a  revival,  and  founder  of  so 
large  a  Connexion,  will  probably  be  found 
among  those  of  other  reformers  in  the 
pages  of  ecclesiastical  history  5  to  the  end 
of  time ;  so  he  ardently  hopes,  that  all 
those  who  have  already^  and  may  hereaf- 


216 


THE   LIFE  OF 


ter  enter  into,  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his 
gospel  labors,  will  endeavor  to  pattern  all 
his  virtues,  and  follow  all  his  pious  exam- 
ples, till  the  knowledge  of  free  salvation 
shall  spread  through  every  realm  ;  God's 
name  be  one — His  people  one — His  wor- 
ship one — and  His  glory  cover  the  heav- 
ens, and  the  earth  be  full  of  His  praise, 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

1.  Randal  afflicted  with  the  cholic — at- 
tends monthly  conference,  $c.  2.  Has 
u  great  sense  of  God' s  goodness — goes 
to  Barnstead — attends  Q.  JVI.,  fyc.  3. 
Visits  Bafrington,  and  several  other 
towns.  4.  Attends  meetings  at  New- 
Hampton  and  Gihnanton. 

1.  Dec.  5,  1801,  Eld.  Randal  sat  oul 
with  a  view  to  attend  a  meeting  at  Alton 
meeting-house,  and  rode  as  far  as  the 
Wid.  Willey's,  a  distance  of  about  two 
miles,  when  he  was  violently  seized  with 
the  cholic,  a  disorder  with  which  he  was 
frequently  afflicted  in  the  latter  part  of  his 
life.    The  doctor  was  immediately  called. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


217' 


and  every  probable  means  resorted  to  for 
relief ;  but  for  twelve  hours  all  proved 
ineffectual.  His  life  was  about  despaired 
of,  but  at  length  God  gave  him  relief. 
After  two  days,  he  so  far  recovered  as  to 
be  able  to  ride  home.  He  says,  "  O,  I 
felt  my  soul  filled  with  love  and  gratitude 
to  God."  His  outward  man  was  severely 
afflicted,  but  his  inward  man  was  renewed. 
*'AI1  things  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  God." 

Dec.  8,  he  remained  weak  in  body,  but 
strong  in  faith  and  happy  in  mind.  The 
next  day  he  so  far  recovered  as  to  be 
able  to  attend  the  church  conference. 
66  It  was,"  says  he,  "  a  most  glorious  day 
of  God's  power  !"  In  the  close  of  his 
journal  for  that  year,  hs  says,  "  I  have 
travelled  this  year  in  the  cause  of  truth, 
2723  miles,  and  have  attended  313  public 
meetings,  besides  private  religious  visits, 
weddings,  Slc."  What  an  example  of 
gospel  industry  is  this  for  his  succes- 
sors! 

2.    Jan.  1,  1802,  he  says,  "  I  had  a  ve~ 
ry  great  sense  of  the  goodness  of  God  to 
me  and  all  mankind.    I  gave  myself  up 
19 


218 


THE   LIFE  OF 


anew  to  his  service."  Jan.  16,  he  went 
to  Barnstead,  and  attended  the  funeral  of 
his  niece,  Betsey  Randal,  and  came  home 
the  same  night.  Jan.  19,  he  went  to  Har- 
rington, and  attended  the  quarterly  meet- 
ing, which  continued  four  days.  From 
thence  he  returned,  and  continued  ahout 
home  till  the  8th  of  March,  and  preached 
and  visited  in  that  region.  March  9,  he 
went  to  Portsmouth  on  business,  and  re- 
turned on  the  11th,  and  continued  about 
home  till  the  4th  of  April.  April  5,  he 
Went  to  Gilmanton,  and  assisted  in  the 
ordination  of  Joseph  Young,  Benjamin 
Weeks,  and  Malachi  Davis  to  the  office 
of  Ruling  Elders  ;  and  Noah  Weeks,  Ja- 
cob Runlet,  and  John  Smith  to  the  office 
of  Deacons.  April  G,  he  preached  at 
Gunstock  meeting-house  to  a  very  large 
assembly,  from  Acts  xvii.  80.  "  And  the 
times  of  this  ignorance  God  winked  at9 
but  now  commmandeth  all  men  every 
where  to  repent.*" 

3.  April  7,  he  returned  ho  ne,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  region  till  the  26th.  April 
27,  he  went  to  Barrington  and  preached 
at  the  dwelling-house  of  Eld.  M.  Otis, 


BENJAZuiN  RANDAL, 


219 


and  the  next  clay  preached  again  at  the 
same  place.  April  29,  he  preached  at 
Samuel  Berry's.  From  thence  he  went 
to  Deerfield,  and  May  2,  preached  at 
their  meeting-house,  and  says  he  enjoyed 
great  freedom.  May  3,  he  attended  a 
church  conference  at  Esq.  Ladd's  ;  and 
the  day  following  preached  again  at  the 
meeting-house,  with  great  apparent  suc- 
cess. May  5,  he  went  to  Raymond,  and 
preached  at  T.  Budly's,  and  says,  "  It 
was  a  wonderful  season!"  May  6,  he 
went  to  Eppiag,  and  preached  at  the 
dwelling-house  of  Joseph  Genness,  and 
baptized  Mary  Pike.  May  8,  he  attended 
a  church  conference  at  Somersworth. 
May  10,  he  preached  at  Caleb  Jackson's, 
in  Rochester ;  and  on  the  Ilth,  returned 
home. 

4.  May  19,  20  and  21,  Eld.  Randal  at- 
tended the  quarterly  meeting  in  New- 
Hampton,  and  says,  a  It  was  a  very  glo- 
rious and  profitable  season.55  May  22, 
he  went  to  Meredith,  an  adjacent  town, 
and  attended  the  funeral  of  a  sister  Blake, 
who  died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith.  May 
23,  being  Sabbath,  he  returned  and  at- 


THE   LIFE  OF 


tended  meeting  at  New-Hampton,  and  on 
the  next  day  attended  the  church  confer- 
ence, which  was  very  edifying  ;  and  at  the 
close,  administered  the  Lord's  supper  and 
washing  of  the  saints'  feet.  "  A  very  large 
number  communicated,  and  the  scene  was 
truly  awful  and  glorious  !  delightful  and 
dreadful !"  The  same  evening  he  preach- 
ed at  Meredith,  and  the  next  day  at  Jo- 
seph Osgood's  in  Gilmanton,  and  the  day 
following  at  Eld.  J.  Shepard's,  from 
whence  he  returned  home.  The  time  now 
drew  near  for  the  June  yearly  meeting. 
He,  therefore,  was  engaged  in  making 
every  necessary  preparation  for  the  recep- 
tion of  his  distant  brethren,  and  the  stran- 
gers that  might  attend.  They  convened 
June  12;  many  attended,  and  it  was  a  very 
good  season,  both  in  business  and  worship. 

June  24,  he  sat  out  with  his  wife  and 
Eld.  N.  Marshal  to  visit  their  friends  and 
brethren  in  the  lower  towns.  They  tar- 
ried the  first  night  in  Somersworth,  at  a 
Mr.  Horn's.  The  next  day  they  went 
to  Portsmouth,  and  from  thence  to  New- 
castle. The  next  day,  June  27,  being 
Sabbath,  they  attended  meeting  in  pfe 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  221 

meeting-house.  Eid.  Marshal  preached 
in  the  forenoon,  and  Eld.  Randal  in  the 
afternoon.  June  29,  he  preached  in  Kit- 
tery  at  Capt.  Parson's,  "Where,95  say« 
he,  "  there  were  many  hearing  ears  and 
tender  minds. 55  June  30,  he  preached  at 
a  school-house  in  Portsmouth.  Many 
people  attended  and  behaved  with  decen- 
cy, but  nothing  special  took  place.  July 
1,  they  left  Portsmouth,  and  went  to  New- 
ington.  From  thence  his  wife  returned 
home  with  Eld.  Marshal,  and  he  went  to 
Stratham,  and  held  a  meeting  at  Andrew 
Wigg in's.  July  2,  he  preached  at  Jacob 
Low's;  the  next  day  at  Samuel  Pottle's^ 
The  day  following,  being  Sabbath,  he 
preached  twice  at  the  Baptist  meeting- 
house. He  remarks  that  at  all  those 
meetings  he  enjoyed  a  measure  of  free- 
dom, and  discovered  a  degree  of  tender- 
ness in  the  people.  July  5,  he  went  to 
Raymond,  N.  H.  and  tarried  at  Joseph 
Dndly's.  July  6,  he  preached  at  Deer- 
field  in  the  Baptist  meeting-house,  embod- 
ied a  church,  and  received  them  into  con- 
nection with  the  N.  Durham  quarterly 
meeting.  July  7,  after  finishing  the  busi- 
19* 


222  THE   LIFE  OF 

ness  with  the  church  in  Deerfield,  he  wens 
to  Allenston,  N.  H.  and  preached  at  E. 
Burgan's,  and  the  next  day  at  a  school- 
house  in  Epsom.  July  8,  he  returned  to 
Allenston,  and  preached  at  Samuel  Ken- 
nison's ;  but  nothing  special  took  place. 
July  10,  he  preached  at  Pittsfield,  and 
says,  "  It  was  a  glorious  season."  Sab- 
bath, July  11,  he  preached  at  Pittsfield 
Baptist  meeting-house,  and  at  the  close 
baptized  John  True,  Mary  True  and  Ab- 
igail True.  July  13,  he  returned  home, 
praising  the  Lord  for  his  goodness. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

1.  Randal  Visits  Gilmanton  &  Lebanon^ 
JV.  H.—Goes  to  Hartford,  Vt.  $c.  2. 
Journey  to  Kennebeck,  <§  c.  3.  Visits 
Sqaam  Island,  <£c.  4.  After  visiting 
several  towns,  returns  home. 

Y.  Eld.  Randal  having  now  tarried 
about  home  for  nearly  half  a  month,  on 
the  first  day  of  Aug.  1802,  he  commenced 
a  journey  to  the  west ;  and  the  same  day 
preached  at  Eld.  J.  Shepard'sin  Gilman- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL.  22$ 

ion,  and  administered  the  Lord's  supper 
to  the  church  in  that  place.     Aug.  3,  in 
the  evening  he  preached  at  J.  Kent's  in 
Canterbury.    Aug.  4,  he  arrived  at  Leb- 
anon, N.  H.  and  at  six  o'clock,  P.  M. 
preached  at  a  brother  Bucks'.    The  day 
following,  he  preached  at  a  school-house 
in  the  east  part  of  the  to  wn ;  but  nothing- 
special  took  place,  or  at  least,  nothing 
more  than  what  might  have  been  expected : 
he  called  on  a  man  who  was  a  professor 
of  religion,  and  a  w  arm  advocate  for  Cal- 
vinistic  tenets,  who  told  him  that  he  was 
a  false  prophet.  But,  says  he,  "  It  did  not 
move  me  in  the  least."     Aug.  8,  being 
Sabbath,  he  preached  to  a  crowded  as- 
sembly in  the  same  town,  and  says,  "  The 
word  had  a  powerful  effect  on  the  hear- 
ers."   At  the  close  of  the  exercise,  he 
administered  the  Lord's  supper  to  a  large 
number  of  communicants.     Aug.  9,  he 
went  to  Hartford,  Vt.  and  preached  to  a 
large  assembly,  who  met  in  an  orchard, 
and  appeared  very  attentive  and  solemn. 
Aug.  11,  he  went  to  Springfield,  visited 
Eld.    Babcock,    and   in  the  afternoon, 
preached  at  a  brother  Spencer's,  and  the 


224 


THE   LIFE  OF 


day  following  at  another  brother's  to  ft 
large  assembly,  who  were  chiefly  profes- 
sors. Aug.  14,  he  went  to  Unity,  N.  H. 
and  preached  at  Eld.  Ladd's.  The  next 
day,  being  Sabbath,  he  preached  in  Unity 
meeting-house,  to  a  very  large  congrega- 
tion, and  the  same  evening  at  A.  San- 
born's. Aug.  16,  he  attended  conference 
with  the  church  and  had  a  long  and  lov- 
ing labor  w  ith  the  members  ;  and  to  his 
unspeakable  joy  found  quite  a  number 
steadfast  in  the  faith,  while  to  his  great 
grief,  he  found  others  still  adhering  to  the 
innovations  introduced  among  them  by 
Eld.  Ballard,  before  described.  Eld. 
Randal  then  left  Unity,  and  went  to  Brad- 
ford, and  attended  a  meeting  of  business 
with  the  church  in  that  town.  From 
thence  he  went  to  Fishersfieid  ;  and  on 
the  18th  and  19th,  he  attended  a  quarter- 
ly meeting.  Aug.  20,  he  returned  to  Lou- 
don, and  the  day  following  returned  home 
and  held  another  thanksgiving  with  his 
family.  He  stayed  at  home  four  days,  and 
worked  at  his  trade. 

2.  Eld.  Randal  having  now  made  suit- 
able preparations  for  the  journey,  Aug. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


225 


31,  1S02,  sat  out  to  visit  his  brethren  in 
the  Kermebeck  region.  He  rode  as  far 
as  Liming  ton  the  first  day,  but  before  he 
reached  the  place  where  he  contemplated 
to  put  up,  it  being  in  the  evening  and  dark, 
as  he  and  several  others  were  passing 
over  a  bad  bridge,  one  of  the  horses  broke 
through.  The  Elder  immediately  step- 
ped up  to  help  the  creature  in  distress, 
when  a  plank  was  unfoitunately  tipped, 
the  rising  end  of  which  took  him  up  and 
cast  him  forward,  and  he  fell  on  his  face, 
and  was  wounded  severely.  He,  however, 
concluded  that  he  had  sufficient  cause  of 
thankfulness  that  the  result  was  no  worse. 
He  tarried  that  night  at  a  Friend  Clark's, 
where  he  was  kindly  received  and  hospit-. 
ably  entertained,  but  was  very  sick,  and 
had  much  pain  in  consequence  of  the 
wounds  he  had  received  by  the  fall.  The 
next  morning,  Sept.  1,  he  felt  anxious  to 
pursue  his  journey  ;  and  notwithstanding 
his  illness,  made  a  shift  to  ride  a  short  dis- 
tance to  his  sister  Lion's,  where  he  tarri- 
ed, till  the  afternoon  ;  when  feeling  a  little 
better,  though  still  very  unwell,  he  sat 
#ut  and  rode  as  far  as  Gorham.    Sept  2% 


226 


THE   LIFE  OF 


he  rode  to  Brunswick,  a  distanec  of  about 
40  miles,  and  put  up  at  Joseph  Morse's, 
where  he  was  joyfully  received,  and  kind- 
ly entertained.    Sept.  3,  he  rode  to  Edg- 
comb,  and  put  up  with  his  son-in-law, 
Parsons,  and  found  him  and  his  w  ife  com- 
fortable and  happy.     The  evening  was 
spent  in  friendly   congratulations,  and 
thanksgiving  to  God.    The  next  morning, 
Sept.  4,  he  went  to  Woolwich  and  at- 
tended the  yearly  meeting,  which  contin- 
ued till  the  6th,  and  was  a  very  extraordi- 
nary season  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 
Love  and  unanimity  prevailed  among  the 
members — business  was  attended  to  in  or- 
der, and  done  with  despatch — the  preach- 
ing was  clear  and  powerful,  and  sanctified 
to  the  hearers — saints  were  abundantly 
comforted;  and  many  poor  sinners  were 
awakened  to  see  their  need  of  a  Savior. 
Sept.  7,  he  spent  the  day  in  religious  vis- 
its, and  conversation  with  those  w  ho  were 
mourning  for   sin,   and  in  the  evening 
preached  at  a  brother  Hodsdon's,  where 
the  power  of  the  gospel  w  as  w  onderfully 
displayed  in  the  conviction  and  conversion 
of  souls.    Sept.  8,  he  went  to  Parker's 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


221 


Island,  and  preached  at  Samuel  Hink- 
ley's.  This  was  also  a  refreshing  time, 
on  account  of  the  displays  of  gospel  pow- 
er. Among  other  wonderful  events  which 
took  place  at  this  meeting,  he  remarks  the 
following,  "  Two  sisters,  being  twins, 
seventeen  years  of  age,  while  hearing  the 
word  were  convicted,  and  the  same  day 
experienced  the  new-hirth.  Twins  by  na- 
ture became  twins  by  grace.  He  also  re- 
marks that  the  meeting  continued,  with  a 
little  cessation,  till  midnight,  in  which  time 
many  of  the  congregation  were  crying  to 
God  for  mercy,  while  others  were  prais- 
ing Rim  for  redeeming  grace.  Sept.  9, 
in  the  morning  he  attended  a  meeting  at 
a  brother  Manson's,  which  was  also  a 
very  solemn  and  powerful  season.  In  the 
afternoon  of  the  same  day,  he  attended  a 
meeting  at  a  brother  Hunt's,  which  contin- 
ued till  late  in  the  evening.  Here  the 
stoutest  hearted  sinners  were  brought  to 
bow  to  Christ — plead  guilty — cast  them- 
selves upon  His  mercy,  and  sue  for  par- 
don ;  while  others  who  had  experienced 
justification,  were  shouting  aloud  for  joy. 
Sarly  next  morning,  before  Eld.  Randal 


2:m 


THE   LIFE  OF 


and  his  company  could  get  away,  a  num- 
ber collected  at  the  house  where  they  lodg- 
ed, inquiring,  like  the  trembling  jailor, 
"  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  V-  He, 
therefore,  stopped  and  prayed  with  them, 
and  advised  them  to  believe  on  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  He  then  took  his  leave  of 
them.  This  was  an  affecting  scene ;  for 
a  number  of  those  distressed  mourners  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  water  side,  weeping  as 
they  went. 

3.  Sept.  10,  Eld.  Randal  proceeded  to 
Squarn  Island,  where  he  preached  in  the 
afternoon,  but  nothing  special  took  place. 
Sept.  11,  he  went  to  Bristol  by  water, 
and  had  a  very  agreeable  passage.  Sept. 
12,  he  preached  two  sermons  in  the  same 
place.  Sept.  13,  he  went  to  Pemaquid 
fort,  and  preached  at  Col.  M? Int. ire's. 
Sept.  14,  he  left  Bristol,  and  went  to 
Thomaston,  a  distance  of  about  ten 
leagues  ;  and  being  in  a  small  open  canoe, 
and  the  weather  being  rough,  the  voyage 
was  attended  with  considerable  danger, 
A  very  heavy  shower  came  up,  and  the 
wind  being  boisterous  they  were  compel- 
led to  go  ashore  on  an  uninhabited  island. 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  22$ 

where  they  took  shelter  under  the  clift  of 
a  great  rock,  and  enjoyed  a  happy  season 
in  prayer  till  the  shower  was  over.  They, 
ho v*- ever,  did  not  reach  Thomaston  till 
nearly  midnight.  Sept.  15,  he  preached 
at  James  Brown-s  to  a  large  congrega- 
tion, but  with  little  effect  5  for  the  inhab- 
itants, with  a  very  few  exceptions,  were 
very  much  bound  by  Calvinistic  senti- 
ments, and  were  not  to  be  alarmed  by  the 
warning  voice  of  a  General  Baptist  .  After 
the  meeting  closed  he  went  to  Camden, 
and  the  next  day  attended  a  conference 
with  the  the  church  in  that  place,  but  ob- 
serves that  he  found  no  great  satisfac- 
tion. ..-S:-...^-<e-  :Jr) 

1.  Sept.  17,  he  went  to  Canaan,  but 
found  the  passage  rough  and  difficult. 
When  he  arrived  he  found  a  very  kind 
reception  at  Isaac  HeaPs.  Sept.  IS,  lie 
attended  a  meeting  at  a  brother  Nason?s? 
and  a  church  meeting  in  the  evening  at 
the  same  house.  The  next  day  being 
Sabbath,  he  attended  meeting  all  day  at 
a  brother  LarmVs.  Many  people  attend- 
ed, and  many  sinners  were  awakened  to 
see  their  danger,  and  inquired  what  they 
20 


230 


THE   LIFE  OP 


must  do  to  be  saved.  Sept.  20,  he  went 
back  to  Camden,  and  preached  at  Water- 
man Heart's.  Sept.  21,  he  went  from 
Camden  to  Bristol,  and  the  next  day 
preached  again  at  Col.  M'Intire's.  The  m 
day  following  he  went  to  Townsend,  and 
stayed  all  night  at  John  Norwood's.  Sept. 
24,  he  went  to  Back-river,  and  in  the  day 
time,  preached  in  a  school-house,  and  in 
the  evening  at  John  Southward's.  The 
day  following  he  preached  in  Squam  Isl  - 
and  meeting-house,  and  says,  "  We  had  a 
very  lively,  comfortable  time."  Sept.  26, 
he  preached  at  Woolwich  to  a  very  crowd- 
ed assembly,  and  at  the  close,  broke 
bread,  &c.  The  next  day  he  again  preach- 
ed in  Squam  Island  meeting-house.  Sept. 
28,  he  took  his  leave  of  his  friends  at 
Edgcomb,  returned  to  Woolwich,  and 
preached  at  John  Card's.  Sept.  29,  with 
much  christian  affection,  he  gave  the  part- 
ing hand  to  his  friends  in  Woolwich,  and 
set  his  face  for  home.  He  dined  in  Bath, 
and  lodged  the  same  night  in  North- Yar- 
mouth, at  Mr.  Prince's,  who  treated  him 
very  kindly,  and  would  take  nothing  for 
his  trouble.    vSept.  30,  he  went  to  Gor- 


B  E  I*  J  A  :>  II  _\  R  A  N  D  A  L 


231 


ham,  and  in  the  evening  preached  at  Sam- 
uel Crocket's.  Oct.  1,  he  returned  to 
Newfield,  and  put  up  with  Elijah  Drew, 
Esq.  his  old  well  tried  friend,  where  he 
was  always  kindly  received  and  wrell  en- 
tertained^ and  invited  to  call  again.  Oct, 
2,  he  arrived  at  his  own  house.  He  found 
his  family  in  good  health,  for  which  he 
gave  glory  to  God. 

CHAPTER  XXX 

1.  Randal  attends  Q.  M.—Y.  M.  at  Gor~ 
ham — Elders9  Conference  at  Parsons- 
field.  2.  Journeys  westward.  3.  Re- 
mark on  the  manner  of  his  support — 
his  maxim.  4<.  Dedicates  himself  anew 
to  God — Visits  Portsmouth,  $c. 

1.  Eld.  Randal  having  returned  from 
his  late  eastern  tour,  tarried  about  home 
16  days,  which  time  he  spent  chiefly  in 
attending  meetings  of  public  worship  and 
conference,  and  in  visiting  the  sick  and 
attending  funerals.  Oct.  20,  21  and  22, 
he  attended  the  quarterly  meeting  in  Pitts- 
field,  N.  H     Oct  23,  he  returned  home, 


THE    LIFE  OF 


and  the  next  day  sat  out  to  visit  tin. 
churches  in  the  lower  towns.  He  visited 
Rochester,  Somersworth  and  Dover,  and 
preached  in  each  town,  and  then  returned, 
nnd  tarried  at  home  7  days.  Nov.  5,  he 
commenced  another  journey,  for  yearly 
meeting  at  Gorham.  He  went  the  first 
day  to -Newfield,  and  in  the  evening  preach- 
ed at  Esq.  Drew's,  and  says,  "  We  had 
a  wonderful  meeting.59  He  left  an  ap- 
pointment for  another  meeting  when  he 
returned.  He  then  proceeded  to  Gorham, 
and  sat  in  yearly  meeting  four  days ;  and 
then  returned  to  Farsonsfiekl,  and  attend- 
ed the  yearly  conference  ;  which  he  con- 
sidered an  instructing,  comforting,  and 
edifying  season.  Nov.  10,  he  preached 
at  George  Bickford's  in  Parsonsfield. 
He  exclaims,  u  It  was  a  wonderful  meet- 
ing, the  King  was  present  !"  Nov.  11, 
he  returned  to  Newfield,  and  fulfilled  ins 
appointment  at  Esq.  Drew's,  of  which  he 
says,  "  It  was  a  refreshing,  comfortable 
time."  Nov.  12,  he  preached  in  Brook 
field,  N.  H.  at  Waldren  Kenison's.  Nov 
13,  he  preached  at  Middleton  in  a  school- 
house,  after  which  he  returned  home... 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


233 


2.  Dec.  3,  he  commenced  a  journey  to 
the  west,  and  it  being  a  very  stormy  day 
and  the  wind  very  heavy,  and  having  to 
ride  a  considerable  distance  through  the 
woods,  he  came  nigh  being  killed  several 
times,  by  the  falling  of  trees,  limbs,  &c, 
but  was  wonderfully  preserved.  Dec.  7, 
1,802,  he  sat  in  council  with  others,  at 
Abraham  Drake's  in  New-Hampton,  and 
the  next  day  assisted  in  the  ordination  of 
Josiah  Magoon,  and  Doct.  Simeon  Dana 
to  the  office  of  Teaching  Elders ;  and 
James  Hawkins  and  Nathaniel  Perkins 
to  the  office  of  Deacons.  Dec.  9,  he 
went  to  Bridgewater,  N.  H.  and  attended 
a  meeting  of  worship  ;  the  next  day  re- 
turned home,  and  continued  about  home 
till  the  close  of  the  year.  According  to 
his  account,  he  travelled  in  the  course  of 
the  year  1802,  2,341  miles,  and  attended 
225  public  meetings. 

3.  It  will  doubtless  be  inquired  by  some, 
how  this  indefatigable,  evangelizing  min- 
ister, who  travelled  and  preached  so  inces- 
santly as  stated  in  the  foregoing  accounts, 
fbund  means  to  support  a  wife  and  eight 
children  at  home,  and  money  to  defray  all 

20* 


231 


THE   LIFE  OF 


his  necessary  expenses  abroad,  while  he. 
had  no  stipulated  sum  for  preaching,  cither 
by  the  year  or  day,  and  while  many  oth- 
ers who  scarcely  go  over  their  town  or 
parish  lines,  having  large  salaries,  and 
less  families  th  an  lie  na  d,  find  hard  getting 
along,  and  some  have  even  to  leave  their 
parishes  for  want  of  support,  and  go  into 
other  professions  or  avocations  for  a  liv* 
ing,  because  they  cannot  live  by  preach- 
ing. As  it  respects  Eld.  Randal,  the 
saying  of  David  was  a  maxim  with  him, 
"Trust  in  the  Lord  and  do  good,  and 
thou  shalt  dwell  in  the  land,  and  verily 
thou  shalt  be  fed.5'  In  early  life  he  learn- 
ed to  live  by  faith  in  the  promises  of  God^ 
and  always  afterwards  chose  to  live  so. 
He  considered  the  promises  of  God  to 
hir%  far  superior  to  town  or  parish  secu- 
rity, and  even  better  than  national  bank 
notes,  because  all  these  might  fail,  but 
His  word  can  never  fail.  Eld.  Randal 
considered  himself,  like  Paul,  debtor  to 
all  men,  in  a  gospel  point  of  view;  and 
thought  himself  under  the  strongest  obli- 
gations to  preach  the  gospel,  freely,  to  all 
who  would  hear  him  ;  and  left  the  care  of 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL.  233 

himself  and  family,  altogether  with  God* 
who  had  qualified  and  called  him  to  preach 
hi?  word.  He  therefore  made  no  com- 
plaint to  man,  but  made  known  his  re- 
quests to  the  Lord.  He  believed  that 
God  would  support  him  and  all  his  faith- 
ful ministers,  and  never  let  them  suffer 
more  than  enough  to  wear  off  the  rust, 
and  keep  them  bright.  He  thankfully 
received  of  those  who  heard  him  what- 
ever they  thought  it  their  duty  to  give, 
and  praised  God  for  the  same.  He  stren- 
uously supported  the  idea,  that  Christ  was 
able  to  govern  his  own  kingdom  without 
the  aid  of  human  laws,  and  that  the  gos- 
pel of  Christ  would  support  itself  and 
them  who  preached  it,  agreeably  to  1 
Cor.  ix.  U.  u  Even  so  hath  the  Lord  or- 
dained, that  they  which  preach  the  gospel 
should  live  of  the  gospel."  Also,  that  it 
is  the  indispensable  duty  of  those  who  are 
taught  in  the  word,  to  communicate  to 
him  that  teacheth  in  all  good  things.  He 
concluded,  that  the  gospel  w  as  a  free  gift 
of  God,  and  ought  to  be  preached  freely 
to  all  mankind  ;  and  that  when  received, 
it  will  lead  those  who  possess  it  to  com- 


2m 


THE    LIFE  OP 


Bianicate  freely.  ly  to  John  viii. 

36.  "  If  the  Son,  therefore,  shall  make 
you  free,  ye  shall  be  free  indeed;"  i.  e.  .not 
only  to  be  free  from  the  curse  of  the  law. 
and  bondage  of  sin  ;  but  disposed  them  to 
liberal  and  charitable  acts,  for  the  good 
of  the  cause  in  which  the)7  are  engaged. 
I  think  it  probable,  however,  that  Eld. 
Randal  sometimes  passed  through  some 
pretty  strait  places,  and  knew  what  it 
was  to  be  abased  5  and  at  other  times 
abounded  in  the  comforts  of  life,  as  seems 
to  have  been  the  lot  of  all  who  have  been 
the  faithful  ministers  of  Christ,  and  have 
been  willing  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  His 
cause. 

4.  Eld.  Randal  having  now  closed 
1802,  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1803, 
arose  very  early,  and  dedicated  himself 
anew  to  God  5  praised  him  for  his  great 
goodness,  in  preserving  him  and  others  to 
see  the  close  of  the  last,  and  the  beg  in- 
ning of  a  new  year.  He  prayed  earnestly 
that  he  might  begin  the  year  with  God, 
and  spend  it  in  his  holy  service.  He  then 
went  to  Alton  and  attended  a  church 
meeting  with  the  brethren  in  that  place. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


Jan.  2,  in  the  forenoon  he  preached  at 
Jonathan  McBuffee's,  from  Ezek.  xviii. 
20.  "  The  soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die." 
In  the  afternoon,  from  Isa.  1.  3.  "  Incline 
your  ear,  and  come  unto  ?ne,  hear  and 
your  soul  shall  live."  "This,"  he  says, 
"wag  a  day  of  the  power  and  glory  of 
God.*'  In  the  evening  he  preached  at 
James  McDuffee's,  and  the  word  was  at- 
tended with  similar  effects.  Jan.  3,  he 
spent  the  day  in  religious  visits,  and  in 
the  evening  returned  home.  He  then  con- 
tinued about  home  till  the  12th,  which 
time  he  spent  in  preaching,  and  in  relig- 
ious visits.  Jan.  13,  he  sat  out  on  a  jour- 
ney to  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  and  returned 
on  the  15th.  Here  he  witnessed  the  des- 
olation which  had  been  made  by  what  was 
called  the  great  fire  in  Portsmouth,  and 
exclaimed,  "  O,  how  uncertain  are  all 
things  here  below  1  ** 


2m 


THE    LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

I.  Randal  attends  Q.  M. — Preaches  the 
funeral  sermon  of  a  child.  2.  Visits 
Barring  ton,  tyc.  3.  Attends  the  funeral 
of  B.  York — goes  to  Lebanon.  4.  At- 
tends yearly  fast. — Attends  Q.  M.  at 
Meredith,  fyc. 

1.  Jan.  20,  21  and  22,  Eld.  Randal  at- 
tended the  quarterly  meeting  in  New- Dur- 
ham ;  and  on  the  25th,  went  to  Gihnanton, 
and  assisted  in  the  ordination  of  H.  D. 
Buzzell,  which  he  considered  a  day  of 
God's  power.  He  returned  home  the 
same  night,  and  in  his  usual  manner 
preached  and  visited  in  his  own  vicinity 
till  the  27th  of  Feb.  Oh  that  day,  being 
requested,  he  went  to  Farmington,  and 
preached  the  funeral  sermon  of  a  child  of 
Mr.  Hallibut,  who  was  moving  from  the 
west  to  Portland,  Me.  Eld.  Randal- 
preached  from  Luke  xviii.  16.  At  the 
request  of  the  hearers,  the  sermon  was 
afterwards  printed,  and  has  lately  been 
re-printed  at  Limerick. 

2.  March  15,  he  wont  to  Barringten  oa 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


239 


church  business,  and  also  held  a  meet- 
ing of  worship,  and  the  next  day  returned. 
March  24,  he  went  to  Middleton,  and 
preached  from  Rev.  xxii.  14,  after  which 
he  baptized  Robert  Mathes,  March  26, 
he  went  to  Somers worth,  and  attended  a 
monthly  meeting.  The  next  day  he 
preached  twice  in  a  school-house,  and  in 
the  evening  at  Jacob  Hanson's.  March 

28,  he  preached  at  Wm.  Horn's.  March 

29,  he  went  to  Dover,  and  returned  to 
Rochester,  and  preached  at  a  school- 
house  near  Esq.  Dame's.  March  31,  he 
w  ent  to  Farmington  and  married  a  cou- 
ple. April  1,  he  preached  at  Anthony 
Peavy's,  after  which  he  returned  home. 

8.  April  3,  after  delivering  a  lengthy 
discourse  in  his  own  desk,  he  went  to 
Middleton,  and  attended  the  funeral  oi 
Benjamin  York,  an  old  friend  of  his.  In 
the  evening,  he  preached  at  a  school-house 
in  the  same  town.  April  4,  he  preached 
at  Eld.  John  BlaisdePs,  Lebanon,  Me. 
The  next  day  he  attended  a  monthly  meet- 
ing, and  the  succeeding  day  returned  to 
Middleton,  and  sat  with  the  church  in 
their  monthly  conference.    From  thence 


THE   LIFE  OF 


he  returned  home,  sick.  Who  can  won* 
der  that  he  was  sick  ?  if  they  consider 
how  much  fatigue  he  had  in  so  short  a 
time,  while  at  the  same  time,  he  was  much 
oppressed  with  a  distressing  cough.  He 
never  spared  himself.  He  used  to  say. 
u  Ministers  are  immortal  till  their  work  is 
done  5  and  I  had  rather  wear  out  than 
rust  out.'5 

4.  April  7,  being  the  yearly  fast,  not- 
withstanding  his  illness,  he  turned  out  and 
met  with  his  congregation,  and  preached 
from  Isa.  lviii.  3.  "  Wherefore  do  ice  fast 
and  thou  seest  not  ?"  From  the  above 
passage,  he  delivered  a  most  powerful 
and  soul-searching  discourse,  after  which 
he  returned  home,  giving  glory  to  God. 
April  8,  he  remained  very  unwell,  hardly 
able  to  set  up.  April  9,  he  remained 
much  the  same,  but  says,  "  I  felt  a  hies- 
sed  degree  of  calmness  in  my  mind." 
April  10,  being  Sabbath,  he  turned  out 
again,  met  his  congregation,  and  preached 
from  Songs  v.  9.  u  What  is  thy  beloved 
more  than  another  beloved  ?**  Here  he 
tried  a  medicine*  which  he  often  recom- 
mended to  other  complaining  ministers, 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  241 

A  jmlpit  sweats  He  gave  a  most  live- 
ly and  striking  description  of  [Christ]  the 
believer's  beloved,  and  by  a  great  variety  of 
circumstances  and  inferences,  shewed  that 
He  very  far  exceeds  any  other  beloved, 
which  a  soul  might  affect  to  choose.  He 
took  such  an  interest  in  the  subject  him- 
self, and  was  so  affected  with  the  ravishing 
beauties  of  Christ,  that  he  almost  forgot 
his  sickness,  and  in  fact,  in  some  measure, 
he  renewed  his  strength,  and  went  home 
pretty  comfortable.  However,  the  next 
morning,  he  was  quite  weak  and  sick  ;  but 
in  the  afternoon  went  out  on  a  visit  ;  and 
continued  to  visit  and  preach  in  the  vicin- 
ity, till  the  16th  of  May.  May  17,  hfe 
rode  to  Meredith,  N.  H.  and  attended  the 
quarterly  meeting,  which  commenced  on 
the  18th,  and  continued  till  the  20th.  He 
considered  this  a  refreshing  season,  and 
in  his  journal,  mentions  a  number  of  pre- 
cious seasons  which  he  enjoyed  in  visiting 
liis  friends  on  the  way.  May  25,  he  went 
to  Wolf  borough,  and  preached  at  the 
dwelling-house  of  Isaac  Jones.  May  26, 
he  married  Mr.  Wm.  Rust  to  Mrs.  Su- 
sanna Malvel,  and  preached  a  sermon  at 
21 

m 


243 


THE   LIFE  OF 


the  close,  from  John  vii.  6.  66  But  your 
time  is  always  ready."  From  thence  he 
returned  home,  and  continued  in  his  own 
neighborhood  preaching  and  visiting  till 
the  first  of  June.  June  3,  he  went  to 
Barnstead,  spent  the  night  with  Eld.  Wil- 
son, and  next  day  went  to  Canterbury, 
and  preached  at  a  Mr.  Hain's  to  a  large 
assembly  and  to  very  good  effect.  He 
stayed  that  night  with  Dea.  L.  C lough. 
June  6,  he  returned  home.  June  11,  the 
yearly  meeting  convened  at  his  house,  and 
continued  till  the  13th,  and  was  a  very 
glorious  season  from  the  commencement 
to  the  close.  June  1 7,  he  made  a  tour  to 
the  sea-board,  and  was  gone  till  the  6th 
of  July.  He  visited  Rochester,  Somers- 
worth,  Kittery,  Newcastle,  &c;  and 
preached  twice  in  Newcastle,  twice  in 
Portsmouth,  and  once  in  Kittery,  besides 
making  several  religious  visits  in  those 
towns. 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  JU>- 

CIIAPTER  XXXII. 

1.  Randal  visits  Somersicorth — Attends 
Q.  M.  Beerfield—Y.  M.  at  Woolwich, 
2.  Attends  Q.  M,  at  Bradford,  and  ¥. 
JIT.  at  Gorham.  3.  Dedicates  himself 
again  to  God — Attends  Q.M.  at  Sand- 
ivich.    4.  Returns  home,  sick. 

I.  Eid.  Randal  having  made  suitable 
arrangements  at  home,  Aug.  7,  went  W 
Sx>merswbrtli5  a  distance  of  18  miles,  and 
preached  three  times  the  same  day,  and 
once  in  the  evening.  Aug.  8,  he  went  to 
Dover,  did  considerable  business  with  the 
printer,  and  from  thence  went  to  Ports- 
mouth and  preached  the  same  evening. 
Aug.  9,  he  rode  home  a  distance  of  about 
35  miles.  Aug,  15,  he  went  to  Barring- 
ton-  and  preached  at  the  dwelling-he  use 
of  Eld.  M.  Otis,  which  he  considered  a 
very  happy  season.  From  thence  he  went 
to  Deerfield  and  attended  a  quarterly 
meeting,  which  convened  on  the  17th  of 
Aug.,  and  continued  till  the  19th.  He 
then  returned  home,  after  performing  the 
above  journey  i  he  tarried  at  home  8  days. 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Aug.  29,  he  commenced  a  tour  to  the  east 
to  attend  the  yearly  meeting  at  Woolwich, 
lie  was  gone  on  this  journey  only  27  days, 
^in  which  time  he  visited  Lebanon,  Saco, 
Portland,  Brunswick,  Georgetown,  Squam 
Island,  Boothbay,  Bristol,  &,c,  and  at- 
tended 25  public  meetings,  and  travelled 
322  miles,  and  sawr  much  of  the  work  of 
the  Lord  in  the  conviction  and  conversion 
of  souls,  Oct.  6,  he  visited  the  brethren 
in  Newcastle,  N.  H.  and  preached  in  their 
meeting-house,  and  returned  on  the  7th. 

2.  Oct.  17,  he  commenced  a  journey  to 
the  west,  and  on  the  19th  and  20th,  at- 
tended the  quarterly  meeting  at  Bradford. 
This  he  considered  a  very  wonderful 
meeting,  on  account  of  the  displays  of  the 
power  of  God.  Oct.  21,  he  attended  an 
Elders'  Conference  in  the  same  town, 
The  Sabbath  following  he  preached  at 
Bradford  meeting-house,  and  in  I  he  even- 
ing at  Edmund  Creasey's.  From  thence 
he  came  to  Kearsage  Gore,  and  attended 
a  meeting  at  Abner  Watkin's.  The  word 
w  as  made  quick  and  powerful  to  the  hear- 
ers. He  also  attended  a  meeting  the 
game  evening  at  Abijah-  Watson's,  which 


fifiNJAMIN   RANDAL.  24>5 

was  likewise  attended  with  a  blessing, 
He  then  returned  to  Canterbury  and 
preached  at  a  brother  Kent's ;  and  the 
day  following  at  the  \V  id.  Sleeper's  in 
Loudon.  In  the  evening  he  preached  at 
Thomas  Procter's,  the  next  day  at  John 
Lougee's  in  Gilmanton.  From  thence 
returned  home,  and  praised  the  Lord  that 
he  found  all  well.  He  now  tarried  with 
his  family  three  days^  and  then  took  a 
tour  east,  to  attend  the  yearly  meeting  in 
Gorham.  It  convened  Nov.  5,  and  con- 
tinned  till  the  7th.  Nov.  8,  he  sat  in 
Elders'  Confer  ence,  and  experienced 
great  satisfaction.  Nov.  9,  he  preached 
in  Pepperelborough,  the  next  day  in  Old- 
orchard  at  John  Pritham's.  Hiis,  he 
says,  was  a  very  powerful  season,  and 
mentions  that  a  woman  by  the  name  of 
Bachelder  cried  much  for  mercy.  Prom 
thence  he  went  to  Hollis,  and  preached  at 
Z.  Gordon's  in  the  afternoon  and  evening. 
Nov.  12,  he  returned  to  New-Durham, 
and  found  his  concerns  all  icell  as  usual. 
He  spent  the  remaining  part  ef  the  yea? 
in  New-Durham  in  preaching  the  gospel 
among  his  neighbors-— visiting  the  sick5 
21* 


24B 


THE   LIFE  OF 


and  attending  to  the  cares  of  his  family- 
It  is  worthy  of  observation,  that  in  tracing 
his  journal  through  all  his  circuitous  tours, 
that  he  always  remarks  when  he  came 
home,  he  found  his  family  well.  It  ap- 
pears that  while  he  was  assiduously  en- 
gaged in  the  public  cause  of  God,  God 
took  special  care  of  his  family,  agreeably 
to  his  faith.  He  said,  "  If  ministers  would 
do  their  duty  in  all  respects  and  preach 
the  gospel  in  its  purity,  they  would  always 
be  provided  for  ;  but  that  those  who  are 
slothful  and  negligent  must  expect  to  suf- 
fer," 

3.  Jan.  1,  1804,  being  Sabbath,  he 
arose  early  and  dedicated  himself  anew 
to  God,  and  asked  His  grace  to  enable 
him  to  spend  the  year  in  His  fear  and  ser- 
vice ;  and  that  he  mi^ht  live  more  to  the 
glory  of  God,  than  he  ever  had  done.  He 
then  prepared  for  irieetirig  and  went  to  the 
place  of  worship.  He  preached  from  1 
Kings  x.  8.  "Happy  are  thy  men,  happy 
are  these  thy  servants,  ivhich  stand  con- 
tinually before  thee,  and  that  hear  thy 
wisdom."  In  applying  the  subject,  he 
expressed  his  wish  that  all  his  congrega- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


247 


tion  might  be  truly  happy ;  he  labored  to 
shew  them  wherein  true  happiness  con- 
sists, how7  they  might  obtain  it,  &,c.  The 
discourse  had  a  very  solemn  effect  on  the 
hearers  ;  and  he  returned  home  very  hap- 
py himself.  Jan.  18,  19  and  20,  he  at- 
tended the  quarterly  meeting  and  Elders5 
Conference  in  Sandwich;  and  on  the 
21st,  assisted  in  the  ordination  of  Daniel 
Elkins  of  Adams,  N.  H.,  and  preached  a 
sermon  from  Mark  xvi  15.  "  And  he  said 
unto  them j  Go  ye  into  all  the  ivorld  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature." 

4.  Jan.  22,  being  Sabbath,  Eld  Ran- 
dal preached  at  Sandwich  meeting-house 
from  John  xiv.  6.  In  the  evening  he 
preached  at  Dea.  Rice's,  Many  appear- 
ed deeply  affected  under  the  word  ;  and 
quite  a  number  were  convinced  of  the  ne- 
cessity of  being  born  again.  Jan  24,  he 
returned  home  and  continued  to  preach 
and  visit  in  his  vicinity  in  his  usual  man- 
ner, till  the  7th  of  February,  which  was 
his  birth  day.  On  that  day  he  was  55 
years  of  age.  He  therefore  offered  his 
yearly  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving  on  the 
family  altar,  and  then  sat  out  for  Kenne- 


24B- 


THE    LIFE  OP 


beck,  accompanying  his  daughter,  Mrs? 
Parsons,  with  her  husband  and  children 
towards  their  home,  they  having  previous- 
ly made  him  a  visit.  He  was  gone  seven 
days,  and  on  his  return  took  a  violent  cold. 
He  was  now  weak  and  low,  and  was  un- 
able to  travel  for  several  months.  He 
however  attended  meetings  of  worship 
with  his  flock,  and  preached  as  much  as 
his  strength  would  admit ;  he  also  fre- 
quently attended  their  conference  meet- 
ings, and  when  unable  to  go  abroad  he 
had  the  meetings  appointed  at  his  own 
house.  In  his  daily  account,  he  frequent- 
ly remarks  that  he  enjoyed  much  divine 
consolation  in  his  soul  in  the  course  of 
his  illness. 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

RandaPs  first  letter  to  the  Q.  Meeting, 
Eld.  Randal  being  low  in  bodily  healthy 
and  unable  to  attend  the  New-Durham 
quarterly  meeting,  wrote  the  following 
epistle. 

New-Durham,  July  31,  1804. 
Dearly  beloved  brethren  and  friends y — 
Although  I  w  rite  with  a  weak  frame  and 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


249 


trembling  hand,  yet,  glory  to  God,  I  write 
with  a  soul  inflamed  with  love  to  him 
and  to  you,  my  dear  and  precious  fellow 
travellers  to  eternal  glory.  May  the  grace 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  and  abide 
with  you  all,  and  all  that  wisdom  be  given 
you  which  you  need. 

I  take  this  method  to  appear  in  quar- 
terly meeting,  being  so  reduced  in  bodily 
strength,  that  I  am  not  able  to  attend 
any  other  way  ;  neither  do  I  ever  expect 
to  sit  with  you  again  in  public  meeting, 
until  we  sit  around  the  great  white  throne; 
unless  the  Lord  unexpectedly  raises  me 
again,  w  hich,  if  he  should,  will  be  mirac- 
ulous. I  had  a  cough  settled  on  me  the 
first  of  last  March,  which  has  been  in- 
creasing ever  since,  so  that  I  have  been 
hindered  from  travelling  from  that  time 
to  this,  excepting  I  attended  the  quarterly 
meeting  in  May,  but  was  very  weak  and 
low.  Once  I  went  to  Nottingham,  but 
ail  tended  to  increase  my  complaint.  The 
first  of  this  month  I  thought  I  felt  a  little 
revived,  and  myself  and  others  thought  it 
might  be  profitable  for  me  to  go  toward 
the  sea-shore.    Accordingly,  I  went  to 


2m 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Portsmouth  and  Newcastle,  but  I  gravy 
worse  from  the  time  I  started  til!  I  re- 
turned. I  arrived  at  home  on  the  20th 
instant,  and  am  so  weak  that  it  is  with 
great  difficulty  that  I  handle  my  pen,  or 
sit  up  long  enough,  to  write  to  you.  Had 
not  this  been  the  case  I  should  have  sat 
out  the  first  of  the  present  month,  and 
have  visited  Richmond,  and  so  gone  up 
the  Connecticut  river  through  all  our 
Connexion  in  that  quarter,  and  have  at- 
tended this  meeting.  But  farewell !  fare- 
well !  You  must  henceforward  do  with- 
out me.  As  to  the  stato  of  my  soul,  I 
feel  strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power 
of  his  might,  and  think  I  have  no  choice 
but  the  Lord's  choice.  As  to  my  faith, 
it  remains  unshaken.  I  am  more  and 
more  established  in  the  doctrine  I  have 
always  preached  ;  I  know  that  I  received 
it  not  of  men,  neither  was  I  taught  it  but 
by  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  only 
regret  that  I  have  been  no  more  industri- 
ous and  laborious  in  my  Master's  vine- 
yard. O,  my  fellow  laborers !  I  tremble 
for  some  of  you,  fearing  you  are  too  neg- 
ligent, and  make  our  Master's  work  too 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


251 


much  a  by-business.  O,  for  Christ's  sake, 
be  more  laborious  if  you  would  with  con- 
fidence receive  your  penny  when  your  day 
is  ended. 

I  am  strong  in  the  belief  of  the  univer- 
sal love  of  God  to  all  men  in  the  atone- 
ment ;  and  in  the  universal  appearance  of 
the  light,  love  and  grace  of  God  to  all 
men  ;  and  that  the  salvation  or  damnation 
of  mankind,  turns  upon  their  receiving  or 
rejecting  the  same.  I  know  from  God 
that  the  doctrine  which  teacheth  that 
it  is  impossible  for  any  of  those  for 
whom  Christ  tlied  to  sin  themselves  to 
hell,  is  a  doctrine  of  error,  invented  to  de- 
stroy souls  ;  and  do  now  in  my  last  mo- 
ments, bear  my  testimony  against  it  5  and 
also  against  that  shocking,  inconsistent, 
Calvinistic  doctrine,  of  eternal  election 
and  reprobation.  I  rejoice  much  to  see 
how  fast  Christ  is  consuming  it,  by  the 
breath  of  his  mouth,  and  the  brightness  of 
his  appearing.  I  am  strong  in  the  belief 
of  the  blessed  ordinances  of  the  gospel,  as 
we  find  them  recorded  in  the  scriptures, 
and  as  we  now  practice  them  ;  and  also  in 
our  order  and  discipline. 


252 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Now,  brethren,  I  am  going  to  leave  the 
Connexion  with  you,  and  I  know  not  on 
whom  my  mantle  will  fall ;  I  tvill  it  to 
whom  the  Lord  will ;  I  hope  it  will  fall 
On  some  one  a  thousand  times  more  fit 
for  it  than  ever  I  was.  The  thing  I  most 
fear^  that  will  hinder  the  advancement  of 
the  cause,  is,  "Who  shall  be  the  great- 
est ?M  I  have  discovered  so  much  of  it, 
I  have,  and  do  greatly  fear.  O  my  breth- 
ren, "  Humility  goeth  before  promotion, 
and  a  haughty  spirit  before  a  fall."  Let 
nothing  be  done  among  you  through  strife 
or  vain  glory,  but  in  holiness  of  mind, 
let  each  esteem  others  better  than  them- 
selves. There  is  in  some  branches,  and 
in  some  members  in  this  Connexion,  I 
think,  a  great  inclination  to  mingle  with 
the  world  ;  and  this  I  fear  will  cause  a 
great  deal  of  trouble.  O,  beware  of  it,  I 
pray  you ;  for  we  are  called  out  from  the 
world,  and  from  every  people  under  hea- 
ven ;  and  our  prosperity  wholly  depends 
on  our  following  our  heavenly  Leader  £ 
and  if  we  do  not,  God  will  raise  him  an- 
other people,  and  we  shall  siiik  as  others 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


256 


have  done  before  us,*  I  have  many  things 
to  say,  but  I  forbear  now,  and  hope  the 
Lord  will  enable  me  to  leave  my  charge 
to  the  whole  Connexion.  I  here  end, 
sending  my  love  to  the  meeting,  to  all  my 
friends,  my  enemies,  and  to  all  my  fellow 
men. 

From  your  dying  servant  and  brother 
in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Farewell. 

B.  Randal. 

*  Some  unstable  persons,  from  the  above  words,  have  stated 
that.  Eld.  Randal  prophesied  that  the  Connexion  would  fall ; 
and  f;om  that  pretext  have  endeavored  to  draw  ofF  parties, 
and  set  up  new  orders,  but  all  have  hitherto  failed,  and  it  is 
likely  they  always  will,  so  long  as  the  Connexion  follows  their 
heavenly  Leader. 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

L  Eld.  Randal  recovers— attends  Q.  M. 
2.  Attends  Y.  M.  at  Parsonsjield.  3. 
Presides  hi  Elders'  Conference,  4~c. 
4.  Commences  a  new  year— attends  Q. 
M— visits  Vermont. 

1.  Eld.  Randal  recovered. his  health  in 
some  measure  in  the  month  of  Sept  ember, 
and  although  very  weak,  on  the  23d  of  the 
same  month  went  out  to  hear  Eld.  Wilson 

99 


THE   LIFE  OF 


preach  ;  which  he  considered  a  great  fa* 
vor,  and  expressed  great  satisfaction  in 
the  Elder's  improvement.  Sept.  30,  he 
went  out  again  to  hear  Eld.  Townsend, 
and  says,  "  I  found  it  to  be  a  glorious 
season  to  my  soul."  After  this,  his  health 
continued  to  improve.  His  cough,  how* 
ever,  was  troublesome  for  some  time  ;  yet 
he  made  several  visits,  and  attended  meet* 
ings  of  worship  and  conference  with  the 
brethren,  and  occasionally  preached.  Oc- 
tober 16,  he  had  so  far  recovered  his  health 
that  he  ventured  to  set  out  for  quarterly 
meeting,  which  convened  at  Canterbury, 
N.  H.  on  the  17th  of  the  same  month. 
He  delivered  a  sermon  at  this  meeting 
from  Isa.  lxi.  1.  "  The  spirit  of  the  Lord 
God  is  upon  me,  because  the  Lord  hath 
anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  to  the 
meek  ;  he  hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the  bro- 
ken hearted,  to  proclaim  liberty  to  the 
captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to 
them  that  are  boimd."  He  remarks,  that 
he  found  great  freedom  in  speaking  of 
gospel  liberty,  and  that  it  was  a  most  glo- 
rious day  of  God's  power.  Sabbath  day, 
Oct.  21,  he  preached  in  Gilmanton  meet- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


ing-foouse.  A.  31.  from  Heb.  iv.  9,  There 
reraaineth)  therefore,  a  rest  to  the  people 
of  God"  P.  M.  from  Mat.  xi.  28,  29. 
K  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden  and  I  will  give  you  rest. 
Take  my  yoke  upon  you  and  learn  of  me  ; 
for  I  am  meek  and  loicly  in  heart  and  ye 
shall  find  rest  to  your  souls."  These  dis- 
courses were  also  attended  with  an  extra- 
ordinary blessing.  Saints  were  much  ed- 
ified. Oct.  22,  he  preached  at  Eld.  Wil- 
son's, from  Acts  xxii.  28.  "  But  I  was  free 
born."  From  thence  he  returned  home, 
laden  with  the  experience  of  God's  good- 
ness. 

2.  Eld.  Randal,  having  rested  a  few 
days  with  his  family,  Nov.  1,  sat  out  for 
yearly  meeting,  which  convened  at  Par- 
sonsficld  on  the  3d  day  of  the  same  month. 
He  served  as  moderator  in  the  meeting  of 
business,  and  preached  twice  in  the  course 
of  the  meeting,  and  administered  the 
Lord's  supper  ;  all  of  which  was  attended 
with  the  divine  blessing.  The  love  of  God 
appeared  to  How  from  heart  to  heart.  At 
the  close  of  the  exercises  two  school  dames, 
namely,  Ruth  Merrill  of  Buxton,  ?.nd 


256 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Naomi  Carter  of  Fry  burg,  Me.  were  bap- 
tized. They  related  their  experiences  of 
grace  in  the  public  assembly,  in  presence 
of  about  1000  or  1£00  people.  They  did 
it  in  a  very  deliberate,  though  a  flee  ting 
manner.  Many  in  the  assembly  were 
deeply  affected  with  their  narratives,  and 
the  scene  was  truly  glorious.  The  young 
women  had  never  before  been  acquainted 
with  each  other,  and  lived  about  thirty 
miles  apart  5  yet  they  both  left  their  homes 
about  the  same  time,  with  a  view  of  fol- 
lowing their  Savior  in  this  ordinance, 
which  excited  much  admiration  in  the 
hearers.  The  scene  at  the  water,  was  al- 
most indescribable.  The  rejoicing  Gf 
saints,  and  mourning  of  sinners,  remarka- 
ble candor  of  the  spectators,  together 
with  the  ecstatic  joy,  and  ineffable  love 
and  union  of  those  strangers,  presented  a 
scene  not  unlike  that  of  which  Dr.  Watts 
speaks,  "  A  young  heaven,  on  earthly 
ground,  and  glory  in  the  bud." 

3.  Nov.  6,  Elders5  Conference  conven- 
ed at  Dea.  Samuel  Moulton's.  Eld.  Ran- 
dal presided  $  and  notwithstanding,  it  was 
a  refreshing  season  on  many  accounts,  jrt 


SEZfJAMIN  RAMAL, 


2&I 


was  quite  a  trying  season  to  him,  on  ac- 
count of  his  having  to  announce  the  rejec- 
t-ion of  a  preacher  by  whom  he  had  for- 
merly set  much.  He  always  expressed  •• 
much  grief  on  such  occasions  ;  and  ever 
manifested  great  tenderness  towards  trans- 
gressing members  ;  although  he  corrected 
them  sharply,  yet  he  always  oiled*  the  rod 
with  tears  of  grief,  and  seemed  rather  to 
pity  their  condition,  than  to  rail  at  them  or 
talk  to  them  in  what  he  called  a  hard  spirit. 
He  was  quite  an  example  of  long-suffering. 
He  took  every  scriptural  means  to  reclaim 
them,  whether  they  were  public  or  private 
members,  and  if  after  all  they  proved  re- 
fractory, when  he  came  to  declare  them 
rejected  members,  he  would  perform  it 
with  great  cancer,  I  never  knew  him  to 
perform  it  without  first  supplicating  the 
throne  for  grace  to  support  him  through 
the  scene.  He  considered  it  an  awful 
thing,  for  a  member  to  be  rejected  from 
the  communion  of  saints  on  account  of 
sinful  conduct.  He  often  on  such  occa- 
sions repea-  ed  the  words  of  the  Savior, 
^  What  is  bound  on  earth  is  bound  in 
heaven^  and  what  is  loosed  on  earth  i^ 


THE   LIFE  OF 


loosed  in  heaven."  Nov.  8,  he  returned 
home,  and  continued  preaching  and  visit- 
ing in  the  region  round  about  till  the  close 
of  the  year. 

In  the  close  of  his  annual  account  he 
remarks,  that  having  been  sick  so  much, 
"lie  had  not  been  able  to  attend  only  170 
"meetings,  and  travelled  but  1387  miles. 
An  amount  of  labor  in  tbe  cause  of  truth, 
which  probably  far  exceeded  what  many 
of  his  brethren  had  done  in  the  same  time, 
in  a  state  of  health.  But  he  considered 
the  preaching  of  the  gospel  his  main  busi- 
ness, and  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  to 
iulfil  his  mission. 

4.  Eld.  Randal  now  commences  a  new 
year.  Jan.  14,  1805,  he  sat  out  for  New- 
Hampton,  to  attend  quarterly  meeting.  In 
which  and  in  the  Elders'  Conference  he  sat 
three  days.  Jan.  19,  he  went  to  Bridge- 
water  and  attended  the  funeral  of  Polly 
Terrill,  a  member  of  the  church  in  that 
place.  The  next  day,  he  preached  in 
Bridgewater  meeting-house,  and  the  same 
evening  returned  to  New-Hampton,  and 
tarried  with  Eld.  Magoon.  Jan.  £0,  Iw 
preached  in  the  meeting-house  twice>  and 


•BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


259 


in  the  evening  at  Win.  Marston's.  Jan, 
21,  lie  preached  at  a  brother  Racket's,  and 
returned  again  to  Eld.  Magoon's.  Jan. 
22  and  23,  the  weather  being  inclement, 
he  was  prevented  from  travelling.  Jan. 
24,  he  commenced  a  journey  to  the  north 
part  of  Vermont.  The  first  day,  he  rode 
as  far  as  Warren,  W.  H.  and  put  up  at 
Clement's  tavern.  Jan.  25,  he  pursued  hts 
journey,  called  on  Dr.  Ross  Coon  at  Ha- 
verhill corner,  where  he  was  respectfully 
received,  and  kindly  entertained.  From 
thence  he  rode  the  same  day  to  Peaeham, 
Vt.  and  put  up  at  El  kins'  tavern.  Jan.  26  f 
he  went  to  Hardwick,  Vt.,  and  attendee! 
a  quarterly  meeting,  which,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  an  Elders'  Conference,  continued 
three  days.  Jan.  29,  he  went  to  Green- 
borough,  and  attended  a  meeting  where 
quite  a  number  of  persons  were  pricked 
in  their  hearts,  with  a  sense  of  their  un- 
done condition  as  sinners,  while  the  saints 
were  much  quickened.  He  then  returned 
to  Hardwick,  and  in  the  evening  attended 
a  meeting  at  Dea.  Mark  Norris' .  Jan. 
30,  he  attended  a  meeting  at  Peter  Page's, 
Feb.  1.  he  went  toWaldron,  Vt.  and  vis- 


360 


THE   LIFE  OF 


ited  a  sister  Gilman,  who  was  then  sick 
with  a  dropsy  in  the  cavity  of  the  body, 
and  had  been  tapped  the  same  day,  which 
was  the  twelfth  time  she  had  undergone: 
that  operation  ;  and  says,  that  in  all,  he 
was  informed,  she  had  seventy  gallons  of 
water  drawn  from  her.  He  remarks,  that 
he  found  her  very  comfortable  in  her  mind. 
Feb.  3,  A.  M.  he  preached  in  Harduick, 
from  Josh.  xxiv.  15.,  and  P.  M.  adminis- 
tered the  Lord's  supper  ;  all  of  which  ap- 
peared to  be  attended  with  a  divine  bless- 
ing. Feb.  4,  he  sat  out  for  home  5  but 
the  road  being  badly  drifted,  and  the 
weather  inclement,  he  rode  but  12  miles. 
The  day  following,  the  travelling  being 
difficult  and  himself  unwell,  he  tarried 
with  Benjamin  N orris.  Feb.  6,  he  rode 
to  Haverhill  Corner,  N.  II.  and  in  the 
evening  preached  at  Doct.  Ross  Coon's, 
but  says  he  was  unwell.  Feb.  7,  he 
stayed  all  day  with  the  doctor  and  in  the 
evening  attended  a  meeting  at  Piermont 
in  company  wi  h  Eld.  Jones.  Feb.  %  he 
went  up  the  river  to  Concord,  and  at  end- 
ed a  conference  with  the  church  in  that 
place ;  after  which  be  went  to  Landaff, 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


m 


and  put  up  with  John  Cogswell.  Here 
he  found  a  church  in  one  house,  Mr.  Cogs- 
well with  his  wife  and  children  all  profes- 
sed to  be  new  creatures,  and  were  well 
engaged  in  religion.    Feb.  9,  he  again 
went  to  Piermont,  and  attended  a  church 
meeting  with  the  brethren  in  that  place. 
Feb.  10,  being  Sabbath  he  preached  again 
at  Doct.  Coon's,  to  a  very  crowded  and 
attentive  assembly.     Also  administered 
the  Lord's  supper.    In  the  evening,  he 
preached  in  the  same  place  ;  and  the  pow- 
er of  God  attended  the  word.    Feb.  11, 
he  w ent  to  Warren  and  preached  at  Jona- 
than Clement's.    The  next  day  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Holderness,  and  put  up  at  the 
Wid.  Baker's.     The  day  following,  he 
reached  New-Hampton,  and  from  thence 
he  went  to  Gilmanton  and  put  up  with 
Eld.  J.  Young,  and  Feb.  16,  through  the 
abounding  goodness  of  God,  he  arrived 
at  his  own  house,  and  again  found  his 
family  all  well5  but  was  very  unwell  him- 

*3l£  - 


THE    LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

1.  Eld.  Randal  visits  Canterbury, 
2.  Randal  is  unwell — makes  a  journey 
to  the  sea — attends  the  funeral  of  his 
niece.  3.  Attends  Q.  M.  at  Somers- 
worth,  and  Y.  M.  at  Woolwich — visits 
Alton  and  baptizes  20  persons. 

1.  Eld.  Randal  having  now  rested  a 
few  days  with  his  family,  March  1,  made 
a  visit  with  his  wife  to  Canterbury,  and 
was  gone  6  days,  and  attended  several 
meetings ;  but  was  very  unwell,  and  re- 
turned very  sick.  However,  he  soon  re- 
vived, and  attended  to  his  usual  visits 
and  meetings  in  his  vicinity.  April  30, 
he  took  a  tour  towards  the  sea,  and  visited 
Somers worth,  Portsmouth  and  Newcas- 
tle. He  prea  bed  twice  in  Eld.  Smith's 
meeting-house  in  Portsmouth,  and  attend- 
€d  several  meetings  in  Newcastle.  May 
6,  he  preached  in  So  mors  worth  at  Moses 
Baker's.  May  7,  he  went  to  Farmington, 
N.  H.  and  attended  the  funeral  of  Samuel 
White ;  after  which  he  returned  home  and 
found  bis  concerns  all  well.    It  appears,.- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


2m 


by  his  daily  account,  that  about  that  time 
It  was  very  sickly  in  the  region  where  he 
lived,  and  that  quite  a  number  died.  He 
mentions  a  great  many  cases  of  sickness, 
and  instances  of  death,  and  frequently 
mentions  that  he  visited  his  old  friend, 
Eld.  Samuel  Runnels,  who  it  appears 
had  a  long  confinement  the  fore  part  of 
the  same  year.  He  remarks,  that  he  vis- 
ited him  on  the  3d  of  June,  and  preached 
from  2  Cor.  xii.  9.  "  My  grace  is  suffi- 
cient for  thee,"  and  says  it  was  a  refresh- 
ing season.  June  5,  he  was  called  to  at- 
tend the  funeral  of  his  natural  sister,  (first 
wife  of  John  Buzzell  of  Effingham,)  who 
died  suddenly  by  reason  of  a  fright,  as 
was  judged. 

2.  June  8,  9  and  10,  he  attended  year- 
ly meeting  in  New-Durham,  which  he 
considered  a  very  glorious  season  indeed, 
especially  at  the  time  of  communion.  June 
20,  he  was  very  sick,  and  w  as  not  able  U> 
set  up  much.  July  11,  having  recovered 
so  as  to  be  able  to  ride,  he  took  a  journey 
toward  the  sea,  in  company  with  his  wife 
and  Eld.  S.  Runnels,  having  so  far  re- 
covered from  his  illness*  as  to  be  able  to 


264 


THE   LIFE  OF 


be  abroad.  They  were  gone  ten  days  ; 
in  which  time  they  visited  Portsmouth, 
Newcastle,  Kittery  and  Somersworth. 
Eld.  Randal  preached  from  place  to  place, 
and  they  enjoyed  very  happy  seasons 
among  their  friends.  July  24,  he  went  to 
Barn  stead,  and  visited  Polly  Randal,  his 
niece.  He  found  her  extremely  low,  and 
just  gone  with  a  consumption,  but  much 
resigned.  Her  affections  were  taken  off 
from  things  below.  She  said  to  him, 
"  Uncle,  I  have  nothing  here — I  have 
given  all  away- — I.  am  a  poor  beggar,  and 
mean  to  die  a  beggar — I  have  nothing  but 
Jesus." 

The  Elder  was  much  affected  and  de- 
lighted with  her  remarks.  She  died  Aug. 
3,  1805.  She  rejoiced  much  at  the  ap- 
proach of  death,  and  sweetly  breathed  out 
her  soul  into  the  arms  of  her  blessed  Je- 
sus, with  whom  she  longed  to  be.  The 
Elder  attended  her  funeral  as  a  mourner. 
Eld.  George  preached  a  sermon  suited  to 
the  occasion,  from  a  text  previously  se- 
lected by  herself,  (Rev.  xiv.  13.)  Eld. 
Randal  now  left  the  house  of  mourning, 
and  returned  homeland  continued  visiting 


BENJAISflN  RANDAL 


and  preaching  as  usual,  but  was  very  un- 
well. The  seeds  of  mortality  began  to  ri- 
pen in  him  apace.  Aug.  13,  he  was  seiz- 
ed with  another  violent  fit  of  cholic,  which 
lasted  six  hours  without  intermission,  and 
seemed  to  resist  every  means  of  relief. 
His  physician  and  friends  exerted  them- 
selves to  their  utmost,  and  his  life  was 
despaired  of,  but  when  all  hope  was  gone, 
help  came,  the  cause  was  removed,  and 
ease  obtained,  to  the  great  joy  of  all  his 
friends. 

3.  Aug.  It,  weak  as  he  was,  he  rode 
two  miles  to  attend  the  church  conference,, 
and  says  "  It  was  a  glorious  day  of  the 
Lord's  power."  He  had  several  ill  turns 
afterwards,  but  made  a  shift  to  keep  about 
and  perform  his  usual  tours.  Aug.  21, 
22  and  23,  he  attended  quarterly  meeting 
at  Somersworth,  which  he  considered  an 
extraordinary  interview.  He  also  at- 
tended the  yearly  meeting  at  Woolwich^ 
which  convened  the  7th  of  the  ensuing 
September.  He  carried  LIo  with  him, 
and  visited  about  all  the  churches  iiftnai 
quarter,  and  returned  Oct.  4th.  He  then 
made  another  visit  to  Portsmouth  an d 


266 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Newcastle.  Oct.  25,  he  went  to  Alton* 
N.  H.  in  company  with  Eld.  H.  D.  Buz- 
zell  and  baptized  20  persons,  and  embodi- 
ed a  church.  Nov.  3,  4  and  5,  he  attend- 
ed the  yearly  meeting  and  Elders'  Con- 
ference in  Gorham.  Dec.  3,  4  and  5,  he 
preached  in  Berwick,  baptized  a  number 
and  administered  the  Lord's  supper  to 
the  church  in  that  place.  Here  he  closes 
his  account  for  1S05,  in  which  he  says, 
"  I  have  travelled  this  year  in  the  cause 
of  truth  2090  miles,  and  attended  283 
meetings,  exclusive  of  attending  weddings, 
visiting  the  sick,  &,c. 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

1,  A  summary  account  of  Eld.  Randal3 s 
travels  and  labors  in  1806.  2.  Ran- 
dal visits  a  sick  woman — attends  Q.M. 
at  Sutton,  and  Y.  M.  at  Wilton — visits 
Bid,  Knowlton,  attends  his  funeral,  fyc. 
3.  Preaches  at  Barrington  Hills,  and 
at  Hopk*»fnn^,  4.  Visits  Ashby,  Mass. 
™~jj'mes  with  Gen.  Starks,  fyc. 

1,  Jan.  1,  1806,  Eld.  Randal  preached 
at  Deft,  J.  Fox's,  and  spake  of  the  neces- 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


sitj  of  beginning  the  year  with  God,  and 
spending  it  to  his  glory.  Jan.  5,  he  visit- 
ed his  old  friend,  Win.  Wingate,  and  saw 
him  breathe  his  last.  Jan.  7,  he  attended 
his  funeral,  which  was  a  very  solemn  day. 
But  as  time  would  fail  to  give  a  detail  of 
all  the  events  remarked  by  him  in  his  ac- 
counts for  that  year,  I  shall  only  give  my 
readers  a  summary  of  the  w  hole.  Let  it 
therefore  suffice  to  say,  that  he  spent  al- 
most every  day  in  the  year  in  the  public 
service  of  God.  He  attended  three  quar- 
terly meetings,  one  in  Gilmanton — one  in 
Sandwich — one  in  New-Hampton ;  also, 
attended  all  the  terms  of  the  yearly  meet- 
ing— visited  the  principal  churches  in  the 
Kennebeck  region — attended  to  much 
church  business ;  and  in  addition  to  his 
usual  tours,  in  the  month  of  October,  went 
to  Ashby,  Mass.  and  preached  in  a  num- 
ber of  towns  in  that  region.  The  number 
of  mites  he  travelled  in  the  course  of  the 
year,  are  not  recorded  by  him,  nor  the 
number  of  meetings  he  attended  ;  but  I 
should  say,  by  the  appearance  of  the  ac- 
county  he  travelled  as  much  if  not  more 
»Hn  in  any  former  year  of  his  life.  De<\ 


■■■(SS 


THE   LIFE  OF 


31,  he  writes,  "  Not  able  to  sit  up,  nor 
torn  myself  in  bed  without  help  ;  so  I  end 
the  year  in  pain  ;  but  to  the  glory  of  God, 
can  say,  I  enjoy  a  steadfast  faith,  and 
a  heavenly  calmness  in  my  soul.5' 
■  2.  Jan.  1,  1807,  Eld.  Randal  was  very 
unwell,  and  unable  to  dress  himself;  he, 
however,  soon  began  to  amend,  and  on 
the  4th  day  so  far  recovered,  as  to  be 
able  with  a  little  help  to  get  on  his  horse 
and  ride  to  meeting.  He  preached  from 
John  iii.  5.  u  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
thee,  except  a  man  be  born  of  water,  and 
of  the  spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  God  J 9  He  enjoyed  great  freedom 
in  speaking  on  the  subject,  and  the  word 
had  a  good  effect  on  the  hearers  ;  but  his 
anxiety  was  such  for  their  salvation,  and 
his  mind  so  much  stronger  than  his  bodyt 
that  he  exerted  himself  beyond  his  ability, 
so  that  the  next  day  he  was  unable  to  go 
.broad.  This  was  often  the  case  with 
him  in  the  decline  of  life.  Jan.  7,  being 
helped  on  his  horse,  he  rode  four  miles  to 
visit  a  -sick  woman,  who  was  nigh  her  end, 
and  desired  to  see  him.  After  this,  he 
gradually  grew  bettor,  ai*d  attended  to 


BENJAMIN    RANDAL.  2GS 

preaching  and  visiting  as  usual.  Jan.  2$ 
and  22,  he  attended  the  quarterly  meeting 
in  Sutton,  N.  H.  after  which  he  returned 
home,  and  on  Feb.  2,  he  sat  out  to  attend 
the  yearly  meeting  in  Wilton,  Me.,  but 
was  prevented  by  a  most  violent  snow 
&tQrm.  He,  however,  w  ent  on  as  far  as 
Lewiston,  but  finding  it  impracticable  to 
go  through,  he  calmly  yielded  to  Provi- 
dence, and  stopped  among  his  friends  in 
that  place,  and  attended  several  meetings} 
after  which  he  sat  out  for  home,  but  the 
travelling  being  very  difficult,  he  had 
to  stop  from  place  to  place,  and  finally  .did 
not  reach  home  till  the  21  st  of  the  same 
month.  March  9,  he  went  to  Pittsiield, 
to  visit  Eld.  David  Knowlton,  juu.  and 
found  him  very  low  in  body,  and  near 
eternity  $  but  very  comfortable  in  mind, 
strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God,  and 
longing  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ. 
The  scene,  however,  was  very  affecting  to 
Eld.  Randal.  Eld.  D  Knowlton  was  a 
very  promising  young  man,  and  an  excel- 
lent preacher  ;  beloved  by  all  his  acquain- 
tance, and  admired  hy  hose  who  heard 
fun*.  He  died  March  11,  1807.  and  was 
23* 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Juried  March  14.  Eld.  Randal  preached 
his  funeral  sermon,  from  Num.  xxiii.  10. 

Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous, 
and  let  my  last  end  he  like  his."  Six  El- 
ders bore  him  to  the  grave — one  walked 
with,  and  supported  the  mourning  widow 
— about  1000  people  followed  in  proces- 
sion. The  scene  was  solemn,  and  many 
tears  were  shed  over  the  remains  of  this 
amiable  minister.  His  life  was  useful,  and 
his  death  gainful.  He  left  an  agreeable 
companion — a  pious  father  and  mother, 
as  well  as  an  affectionate  brother  and  sis- 
ters to  feel  and  mourn  his  loss  5  a] so  an 
extensive  religious  connexion  to  whom  he 
was  very  dear.* 

March  15,  being  Sabbath,  Eld.  Ran- 
dal tarried  and  preached,  A.  M.  from 
Ezek.  xviii.  20.  "  The  righteousness  of 'the 
righteous  shall  he  upon  Mm,  and  the  icicle- 
edness  of  the  wicked  shall  be  upon  him  J* 
P.  M.  Eld.  Eben.  Knowlton,  brother  to 
the  deceased,  preached  a  very  affecting  dis- 
course. March  24,  Eld.  Randal  preach- 
ed at  Barnstead,  and  baptized  Meribah 

*  Eld.  David  Knowlton's  father  and  only  brother,  were  or- 
dained ministers  in  the  Connexion. 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL 


271 


Foss,  wife  of  John  Foss,  and  Enoch  and 
Daniel,  their  two  sons.  March  25,  he 
preached  at  the  house  of  Eph.  Holmes.— 
March  26,  he  preached  at  a  school-house 
in  Barrington,  at  a  place  called  the  Hills. 
March  27,  in  the  evening  he  preached  at 
David  Drew's  in  Barnstead,  and  rising  of 
50  persons  either  prayed  publicly,  or  spake 
by  exhortation,  chiefly  young  men  and 
boys.  March  29,  he  preached  at  a  school- 
house  where  the  late  Eld.  David  Knowl- 
ton  used  to  preach,  and  spake  from  Heb. 
xi.  13.  "  These  all  died  in  faith,  not  hav- 
ing received  the  promises,  but  having  seen 
them  afar  off,  and  were  persuaded  of 
them,  and  confessed  that  they  were  stran- 
gers a  n d  pilgrims  on  e a rth." 

3.  March  30,  he  went  to  David 
Youno's,  in  Barrington,  and  there  being 
a  remarkable  snow-storm,  he  was  blocked 
in  for  several  days  ;  and  as  he  could  not 
travel,  he  cut  out  a  number  of  garments 
for  the  family  and  went  to  rnakin  j  them. 
He  never  could  be  idle,  and  if  any  thing 
turned  up,  that  he  could  not  preach,  if  he 
could  sit  up,  he  would  certainly  he  to 
work;  and  sometimes  when  speaking  of 


THE   LIFE  OF 


the  necessity  of  diligence  in  duty,  or  of 
making  the  gospel  as  much  as  possible 
without  charge,  he  would  glory  a  little, 
like  Paul,  and  shew  his  little  hands  and 
say,  "  These  hands  of  mine  have  minister- 
ed to  my  necessities.5'  However,  on  the 
Sabbath,  being  at  David  Drew's,  the  peo- 
ple in  the  vicinity  had  knowledge  of  his  be- 
ing there,  and  collected  at  the  house.  He 
therefore  began  a  meeting,  winch  result- 
ed in  a  very  comfortable  season.  April  8; 
he  made  out  to  get  homeward  as  far  as  his 
son  Hall's,  and  the  day  following  lie  ar- 
rived and  found  all  well.  But  the  road 
was  so  drifted,  that  he  was  obliged  some- 
times to  take  out  his  horse,  and  draw  his 
sleigh  by  hand.  After  this  he  spent  his 
time  in  preaching  and  visiting  about  ho  ne 
till  the  18th  of  May.  May  20,  he  sat  in 
quarterly  meeting  at  Canterbury,  and 
preached  from  John  hi.  7.  "  Marvel  not 
that  I  said  unto  thee  ye  must  be  born 
again."  May  24,  he  went  to  Hopkinton, 
N.  H.  and  preached  in  the  Baptist  meet- 
ing-hoase,  from  Acts  xvi.  30.  and  Rev. 
xxii.  17.  June  13,  the  yearly  meeting 
opened  at  his  house,  and  continued  three 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


vdays,  and  was  a  time  of  refreshing  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord.  June  17,  he 
was  taken  unwell,  and  continued  so  for 
several  days,  but  went  out  some — preach- 
ed a  little — attended  church  meetings — 
visited  the  sick,  and  attended  a  little  to  his 
family  concerns. 

4.  July  27,  he  was  weak  in  body,  but 
being  still  strong  in  faith,  he  commenced 
a  journey  to  Ashhy,  Mass.  and  arrived 
there  July  30,  a  distance  of  about  100 
miles.  Sabbath  day,  Aug.  2,  he  preach- 
ed twice  in  Ashby,  and  once  in  Ashburn- 
ham,  after  which  he  went  to  Dea.  Gib- 
eon's  in  Fitchburgh.  Soon  after  he  ar- 
rived at  the  deacon's,  he  began  to  bleed 
from  his  lungs,  and  continued  bleeding 
moderately  all  night;  he  became  very 
weak.  The  people  were  very  kind,  sat 
up  with  him,  and  did  what  they  could  for 
hi  in.  Aug.  3,  he  spit  blood  ail  the  fore- 
noon, and  sat  up  but  a  little,  but  in  the 
afternoon  he  attended  the  ordination  of 
Stephen  Gibson — preached  the  sermon — • 
gave  the  charge,  olc,  but  with  weak  lungs. 
Aug.  5,  he  left  Ashby,  and  on  the  7th  ar- 
rived ai  Derryfield,  N,  H.  and  dined  with 


1?HE   LIFE'  OP 


Gen.  St  arks,  the  revolutionary  patriot, 
whose  name  as  a  hero,  will  ever  be  dear 
to  Americans.  They  had  much  conver- 
sation on  the  subject  of  religion.  The  in- 
terview was  very  interesting  to  Eld.  Ran- 
dal. He  availed  himself  of  the  privilege 
of  opening  his  mind  freely,  and  labor- 
ed much  to  shew  the  general  his  views 
of  the  w  ay  of  salvation,  and  of  the  neces- 
sity of  regeneration.  The  general  being 
affected  with  the  remarks^  exclaimed, 
"  You  are  not  what  formalists  and  bigots; 
call  a  christian  ! "  "  And,"  continued  he, 
"  If  it  was  not  for  four  things,  which 
those  called  christians  hold,  namely,  an- 
archy,  avarice,  superstition  and  tradition9 
I  should  be  a  christian."  "  Why,  sir," 
replied  the  Elder,  "  I  hate  all  those 
things,  and  yet  I  am  a  christian."  The 
general,  in  a  flood  of  tears,  exclaimed, 
u  God  bless  you  !  God  bless  you  !  God 
bless  yon  I"  and  said,  "  I  am  an  old  man 
of  eighty  years,  and  shall  stay  here  but  a 
little  while,  but  my  wife  is  younger  than  I, 
and  will  probably  out  live  me,  and  I  shall 
charge  her  and  my  son,  ever  to  receive 
you;  and  treat  you  respectfully.."  Tfta 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


275 


Elder  thanked  him,  and  gave  him  the  part- 
ing hand,  but  not  without  shedding  some 
tears.  He  came  from  thence  to  Epsom, 
N.  H.  and  attended  a  meeting  in  a  school- 
house,  at  a  place  called  Short  falls  ;  he 
spake  from  Rom.  viii.  17.  He  stayed  the 
same  night  with  Josiah  Knowles,  where 
he  was  kindly  entertained.  Aug.  8,  he 
came  to  Pittsfield,  and  took  breakfast  with 
Eld.  Knowlton.  From  thence  he  return- 
ed home.  He  remarked,  that  he  had  left 
blood  in  a  number  of  places  in  every  town 
beiween  Ashby  and  New-Durham,  and 
yet  had  great  reason  to  bless  God. 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Eld.  RandaPs  last  written  advice  to  the 
Connexion,  in  a  letter,  of  which  the  fol- 
loiving  is  the  substance. 

Eld.  Randal  being  now  in  a  very  low 
state  of  heja.lt h,  and  not  able  to  attend  the 
August  quarterly  meeting,  wrote  as  fol- 
lows: 

"New-Durham,  Aug.  15,  1807. 
Dear  and  well  beloved,  in  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,— It  is  with  a  degree  of  trial 


£?6 


fHE    LIFE  OP 


and  'pleasure,  that  I  salute  you  in  this 
manner :  trial,  that  I  must  write  to  you 
instead  of  appearing  in  bodily  presence, 
which  I  have  much  longed  for  5  but  pleas- 
ure, that  I  have  this  one  resource  left  me, 
that,  though  unable  to  be  bodily  present, 
I  may  write  to  you,  and  bless  you  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord.  O,  my  brethren,  the 
cause  of  God  is  mine.  My  souPs  care 
and  delight  is  to  see  it  prosper.  I  mar- 
ried this  Connexion  in  early  life,  and  in 
that  sense  it  is  my  spouse ;  and  when 
able,  I  have  spared  no  labor,  either  of 
body  or  mind,  night  nor  day,  cold  or  hot, 
far  or  near,  for  the  advancement  of  the 
same.  And,  glory  to  God,  I  have  the  tes- 
timony of  my  conscience  ;  but  my  labors 
are  almost  over,  and  I  am  about  to  re- 
ceive my  crown.  My  body  is  now  too 
weak  to  go  to  Adams ;  but  I  bless  the 
Lord,  that  I  can  be  there  in  spirit,  and  by 
letter-;  and  shall  take  the  freedom  to  give 
a  word  of  advice,  as  a  father  to  his  chil- 
dren, though  with  humility  and  respect. 
First,  to  my  dear  brethren  in  the  minis- 
try. I  feel  much  on  my  soul  on  your  ac- 
count.   Your  lot  is  a  particular  lot,  and 


BENJAMIN   RANDAL.  271 

much,  very  much  depends  on  you,  as  to 
the  promotion  or  destruction  of  the  caase£ 
We  are  on  an  eminence  in  a  certain  sense, 
like  a  city  on  a  hill ;  all  eyes  are  on  us. 
We  profess  to  be  the  representatives  of  Je- 
sus Christ.    O,  let  uis  consider  what  an 
example  he  sat  for  his  ambassadors  to 
follow.  What  humility  !  what  meekness  ! 
what  holiness  !    what  godliness  !  what 
temperance  !  what  self-denial  !  what  sep» 
aration  from  the  world  !    ye?.,  and  every 
thing  that  is  amiable  and  lovely  he  hath 
exhibited  in  his  life,  for  his  ambassadors 
to  follow.    Let  each  of  us,  therefore,  ask 
ourselves  the  question.  How  much  a  n  I, 
or  do  I  strive  to  be  like  him  ?    When  I 
ask  myself  the  question,  I  blush,  being 
sensible  of  my  o  wn  unli&eness  to  him.  I 
have  been  in  the  ministry  thirty  years  last 
March,  and  have  been  making  observa- 
tions on  the  ministers  of  all  denominatiousj 
our  own  as  well  as  others,  and  have  ob- 
served much,  which  has,  and  still  do:  a 
cause  much  grief    Although  many5  when 
they  first  come  into  the  ministry,  tee!  st>me 
good  degree  of  humility  ;  yet  how  sou  : 
they  begin  to  feel  seif-impcrtani,  think 
"  g4 


8,?fi  THE    LIFE  OF" 

themselves  to  be  something  great,  con- 
form to  the  world,  seek  after  worldly  in- 
terest and  honor,  rabbyings,  greetings, 
uppermost  rooms,  chief  seats,  and  want  to 
be  considered  first  and  greatest!  They 
get  to  be  heady,  high-minded,  lovers  of 
pleasure  more  than  lovers  of  God — mak- 
ing a  by-business  of  preaching,  reclining 
in  the  sun-beams  of  worldly  pleasure,  and 
desiring  to  walk  to  heaven  in  golden  slip- 
pers on  sunshiny  days.  O,  what  a  mel- 
ancholy portrait  !  God  forbid  that  any 
feature  of  it  should  belong  to  us,  my  breth- 
ren. But  O,  let  us  watch  for  we  are  irt 
danger.  O,  how  many,  and  some  even 
of  our  own,  have  already  made  shipwreck, 
and  are  wholly  destroyed,  become  scan- 
dalous and  useless.  O,  my  soul  trembles. 
Bear  with  me,  being  such  an  one  as  Ben- 
jamin the  aged.  For  Christ's  sake,  my 
brethren,  let  us  be  little,  humble,  cross- 
bearing  disciples  See  to  it,  that  we  do 
not  get  any  new-fangled,  heady,  wordy, 
tonguey  doctrine  of  men,  which  leads  from 
Christ  instead  of  leading  to  him.  But  let 
our  doctrine  be  such  as  comes  from  Christ 
into  our  hearts,  and  that  will  lead  to  his 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


279 


■spiritual  appearance  and  terminate  in  bis 
glory.  O,  beware  of  schisms  and  rents; 
be  not  of  such  as  cause  divisions  5  but 
mark  such,  and  turn  away  from  them. 
United  w  e  stand,  but  divided  we  fall.  My 
dear  brethren,  follow  this  advice,  and 
walk  in  the  examples  of  Christ,  and 
when  the  chief  Shepherd  shall  appear, 
then  will  you  also  appear  with  him  in 
glory. 

A  w  ord  to  all  in  general.  Dearly  be- 
loved, I  have  before  said  that  I  w  as  early 
married  to  this  Connexion,  and  that  when 
able  have  spared  no  pains  in  promoting  its 
prosperity  and  happiness.  I  bless  God 
that  although  I  have  got  to  be  enfeebled 
in  body,  my  care  for  the  cause  is  still  the 
same  ;  my  mind  still  travels  to  every  part, 
and  I  feel  thankful  when  I  look  back  to 
the  year  1780,  the  year  in  which  this  Con- 
nexion was  first  embodied,  and  see  w  hat 
the  Lord  hath  done  for  us  between  that 
time  and  this.  My  soul  cries  out  with  as- 
tonishment, "  O  !  come,  let  us  magnify 
the  Lord  together  ;  let  us  exalt  his  name 
for  he  is  worthy.''  O,  my  brethren,  we 
have  become  a  numerous  people,  and  I 


THE   LIFE  OF 


am  afraid  we  are  not  so  humble  as 
should  be.  Let  us,  I  pray  you,  have  a 
strife  among  us,  not  "  Who  shall  be  the 
greatest  ?"  but  who  shall  be  the  least  of 
all — who  shall  be  the  humblest — who  shall 
be  the  most  of  a  servant — who  shall  lay 
the  lowest  at  the  feet  of  Jesus— who  shall 
bring  forth  the  most  fruit  to  the  glory  of 
God  ?  O,  my  brethren,  let  us  keep  the 
unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace. 
I  feel  afraid  of  a  division  in  doctrine  and 
tenets,  for  there  is  a  scattering  spirit 
abroad  in  the  w  orld.  "  Lo,  here  is  Christ, 
and  lo,  there  is  Christ.'5  O,  beware  of 
human  inventions ;  for  there  is  much 
pleading  for  those  things.  Human  disci- 
plines, platforms,  creeds,  covenants,  and 
forms  for  ordinances,  which  are  not  to  be 
found  in  the  scriptures  of  truth.  Well  may 
it  be  said  to  many,  as  Christ  said  to  source^ 
"  Full  well  ye  reject  the  commandments 
of  God,  that  ye  may  keep  your  own  tra- 
ditions.'5 O,  reject  these  things  alto- 
gether, and  cleave  to  the  scriptures.  Make 
them  your  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice, 
both  in  temporal  life  and  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  church.    I  have  too  nianf 


B  E  NJ  A  M I  N  I?  A  X  D  A  L . 


tilings  to  say,  to  write  them  with  pea  an  J 
ink,  and  must  therefore  forbear. 

I  long  to  be  with  you,  but  bodily  in- 
firmities Forbid,  I  have  been  very  weak 
ever  since  last  March,  and  was  not  able 
to  go  any  lengthy  journey  until  the  last 
of  July,  when,  in  much  weakness,  I  went 
to  Ashby,  to  perform  business  appointed 
me  by  the  quarterly  meeting.  But  the 
journey  proved  too  hard  for  mo,  which 
caused  me  to  bleed  from  my  lungs  very 
much,  and  I  have  not  ceased  to  bleed  a 
day  since.  I  am  also  lame,  so  that  I  dare 
not  ride,  but  must  lie  still  awhile,  and  if 
I  get  so  as  to  ride  in  a  carriage,  I  shall 
try  to  go  to  the  yearly  meeting  in  Sep- 
tember. O,  my  brethren,  pray  for  your 
unworthy  brother  and  servant  for  Christ's 
sake.  B.  Randal, 

2-k* 


282  THE    LIFE  Of 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

|.  Eld.  Randal  is  very  low  in  health,  buf 
continues  to  preach.  2.  Visits  Edg- 
comb — presides  in  Y.  M.  3.  Preaches 
at  New-Durham — visits  Deer  field — 
returns — is  seized  with  the  cholic— vis- 
its Portsmouth,  fyc.  4.  Attends  Y.  M. 
at  Gorham — goes  to  Gilmanton — has 
another  Jit  of  the  cholic — closes  the  year. 

1.  Aug.  9,  1807,  Eld.  Randal  having 
recruited  a  little,  attended  meeting  with 
his  flock  at  New- Durham,  and  preached 
from  Amos  iv.  12.  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy 
GodV  He  then  rode  to  Eld.  Runnel's, 
with  his  companion,  where  they  tarried  all 
night.  About  8  o'clock  he  began  to  bleed 
again  from  his  lungs,  and  bled  so  exces- 
sively that  he  became  very  weak  and  faint. 
He,  however,  after  resting  through  the 
night,  and  taking  a  little  refreshment  in 
the  morning,  visited  several  families,  in  the 
nei  hborhood,  and  sat  out  for  home,  But 
as  they  were  returning,  he  unluckrily  up- 
Set  his  chaise  and  wounded  himself  very 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


much,  so  that  He  renamed  lame,  as  well 
as  other  use  unwell  for  several  days. 
Aug.  16,  he  rode  to  the  meeting-house 
and  attended  the  funeral  of  his  townsman, 
Jereuiiah  Folsom,  which  he  says  was  a 
very  solemn  day.  After  this  he  continued 
to  preach  and  visit,  though  very  weak  and 
unwell. 

2.  Aug.  SI,  he  sat  out  for  yearly  meet- 
ing at  Edgcomh,  accompanied  by  Eld.  E, 
Kno  vlton  and  o  hers-.  He  arrived  on  the 
4th  of  September.  Sept.  5,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  members  present,  he  presided 
in  the  yearly  meeting  for  the  last  time. 
Sabbath,  Sept  6,  he  was  q  nle  unwell,  he 

towever  sat  in  meeting  several  hours,  and 
/as  delighted  with  bearing  the  vord. 
Sept.  8,  9,  10  and  11,  ho  was  exceedingly 
distressed  for  breath,  and  afflicted  with  a 
violent  ^ough,  and  had  but  little  expecta- 
tion of  living,  but  through  the  supera- 
bov"V  liii-u;  goodness  of  God,  obtained  some 
relief.  Sep  .  14,  he  attended  meeting  at 
Squam  Island,  but  was  unable  to  preach7. 
He  spake  a  little  on    lo^i.  it.  6  Sept. 

16,  he  was  "00  weah  to   o  abroad.  Sept. 

17,  he  attended  a  meeting  at  Br;  Sweat's, 


THE   LIFE  01 


but  was  hardly  able  to  speak.  Sept.  10, 
he  expected  to  set  out  for  home,  bat  it 
being  very  rainy,  he  tarried  at  his  son 
Parsons'.  Sept.  20,  being  Sabbath,  he 
went  to  Woolwich,  and  delivered  his  last 
sermon  to  the  church  in  that  place,  and 
closed  ths  scene  by  administering  the 
Lord's  supper,  and  washing  of  the  saint's 
feet.  He  says,  "  It  was  a  comfortable 
day,  but  I  was  exceedingly  weak  and 
sick."  Sept.  2i,  he  gave  the  parting 
hand  to  his  dear  brethren  in  that  region, 
and  turned  his  back  upon  what  he  for- 
merly called  his  new-vineyard,  to  meet 
with  them  no  more  upon  earth.  He  pro- 
ceeded to  Brunswick,  and  tarried  for  the 
last  night  with  his  much  respected  brothj 
er,  Joseph  Morse.  From  thence  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Portland,  Saco,  Berwick,  Som- 
ers worth  and  Rochester,  and  from  thence 
home.  He  arrived  Sept.  26,  but  was 
very  unwell.  He,  however,  made  aishift 
to  keep  about,  and  continued  preaching 
and  visiting  the  most  part  of  the  time. 

3.  Oct.  18,  being  Sabbath,  he  preach- 
ed to  his  flock  in  New-Durham  from  Pro  v. 
Xii.  1,  and  Mat.  xi.  28—30,  and  says,  "  I 


BE  >T  J  A  M I  X  R  A  N  D  A  L, 


265 


felt  the  blessed  flames  of  love  in  my  soul, 
and  a  sweet  freedom  in  speaking."  Oct. 
19,  he  sat  out  for  quarterly  meeting  at 
Deerfield.    He  arrived  on  the  20th.  Oct. 
21  and  22,  he  sat  in  quarterly  meetings 
and  on  the  23d  attended  Riders'  Confer- 
ence at  Eld.  Moses  Bean's  in  Candia. 
Much  business  was  done,  and  the  mem- 
bers w ere  much  united,  and  he  was  much 
pleased  with  the  unanimity  which  appear- 
ed through  all  the  meeting.    He  then  gav£ 
them  the  parting  hand  for  the  last  time, 
and  returned.    Oct.  25,  he  preached  again 
to  his  flock  from  Isaiah  i.  16,  and  had  a 
comfortable  season.     Oct.  28,  he  was 
seized  with  a  violent  fit  of  billious  cholie, 
and  remained  in  the  utmost  distress  about 
five  hours.    The  next  day,  Oct  29,  he- 
started  for  Portsmouth,  N,  H.    He  tar* 
ried  that  night  at  Jacob  Hanson's  in  Sorn- 
ersworth.    In  the  evening  he  was  taken 
with  fainting  fits,  and  it  was  sometime  be- 
fore they  could  bring  him  to  himself,  bet 
after  taking  some  comfortable  things  ho 
grew  better,  and  the  next  day,  Oct.  30^ 
he  rode  to  Portsmouth,  and  from  thence 
tp  Newcastle,  and  tarried  that  night  with 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Thomas  Bell.  Nov.  1,  he  went  to  the 
meeting-house,  and  heard  two  sermons 
by  Eld.  Hooper,  after  which  he  went  back 
to  Portsmouth,  and  in  the  evening  preach- 
ed with  Eld.  Smith's  people.  This  I 
think  was  the  last  time  they  heard  his 
voice  in  that  region.  Nov.  3,  he  returned 
home,  but  was  very  low  in  health.  Nov, 
5,  he  sat  out  for  Gorham,  to  attend  the 
yearly  meeting.  It  commenced  on  the 
7th,  and  closed  on  the  9th,  and  was  a  re- 
freshing season.  Nov.  10,  he  attended 
the  Elders'  yearly  Conference,  for  the 
last  time.  The  meeting  was  holden  at 
Jacob  Clement's,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
profitable  seasons  I  ever  witnessed.  Eld. 
Randal  enjoyed  himself  remarkably  well, 
seemed  to  renew  his  strength,  and  gave 
many  good  instructions  to  the  Elders,  and 
made  fervent  supplication  to  God  for  his 
blessing  on  the  Connexion.  His  little 
delicate  body  was  much  emaciated ;  his 
countenance  pale  but  lovely,  surrounded 
by  his  silvery  locks,  which  hung  in  ring- 
lets about  his  neck.  His  dress  was  re- 
markably smooth  and  neat ;  and  he  ap- 
peared, I  thought,  more  like  an  angel 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


28/ 


than  a  man.  He  appeared  to  me,  the  most 
like  a  stone  suspended  and  supported  in 
the  air,  a  spark  alive  in  the  midst  of  the 
ocean,  or  a  hush  burning  with  fire,  and 
unconsumed,  than  any  thing  I  ever  saw. 
When  he  spake  to  us,  it  seemed  as  if  he 
was  all  voice  ;  or  like  the  voice  of  one, 
crying  in  the  wilderness,  saying,  Prepare 
ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  &,c.  Nov.  11, 
he  took  his  leave  of  Gorham  for  the  last 
lime,  and  went  to  Portland  to  make  his 
last  visit  there.  Nov.  13,  he  arrived  at 
his  own  house,  felt  more  comfortable  him- 
self, and  found  his  family  all  well.  Nov. 
17,  he  went  to  Gilmanton  on  church  busi- 
ness, aiid  on  the  18th  was  seized  again 
with  another  fit  of  cholic,  whim  lasted 
about  eight  hours  before  he  obtained  any 
relief.  Nov.  21$  he  returned  home,  but 
was  very  unwell.  Nov.  22,  being  Sab- 
bath, he  preached  in  his  own  neighbor- 
hood, from  2  Pet.  iii.  9,  and  in  the  even- 
ing, held  a  meeting  in  his  own  house. 
Nov.  26,  he  attended  the  anniversary 
thanksgiving.  Nov.  28,  he  visited  Joseph 
Buzzell,  an  aged  brother  in  the  church, 
who  had  ever  stood  high  in  Eld.  Randal's 


THE    LIFE  ©F 


esteem,  on  account  of  his  piety  and  use* 
fulness  in  the  public  cause  of  God,  being 
at  that  time  sick  and  near  his  end.  He 
found  him  weak  in  body,  but  strong  in 
faith,  and  without  an  intervening  cloud 
between  him  and  his  Savior.  He  rejoiced 
much  in  the  Lord,  and  said,  "I  have  been 
acquainted  with  Christ  for  64  years,  and 
I  have  never  forsaken  hi  n,  and  he  has 
never  forsaken  me  $  and  I  long  to  be  with 
him!"  He  expired  the  next  day,  in  a 
tery  calm  and  easy  manner.  "Mark  the 
perfect  man  and  behold  the  upright,  for 
the  end  of  that  man  is  peace."  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  Dec.  1st.  His  friends 
lamented  the  loss  of  his  company  and  use- 
fulness ;  but  were  comforted  by  a  hope  of 
his  future  blessedness. 

This  was  the  last  funeral  that  Eld. 
Randal  attended.  He  retired  from  the 
mournful  scene,  went  home,  and  spent  the 
few  remaining  days  of  the  year  with  his 
family.  He  closed  his  annual  account  in 
the  following  words  :  "  Here  ends  my 
journal  for  1807,  having  travelled  only 
2593  miles,  and  having  been  so  much  un- 
well, I  have  attended  only  203  public 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


289 


meetings,  besides  weddings  and  funer- 
als." 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

1.  Eld.  Randal  is  seized  tvith  a  cough— 
his  friends  entertain  a  hope — he  is 
much  resigned — keeps  a  daily  account. 
2.  Searches  the  scriptures-is  much  con- 
cerned for  the  prosperity  of  the  Connex- 
ion— urges  the  necessity  of  being  true 
disciples.  3.  Warns  against  irregu- 
larities,  false  doctrine.  4.  Enjoys  great 
presence  of  mind  in  his  sickness.  5, 
Death  and  buriaL 

1.  In  the  year  1808,  Eld.  Randal  con- 
tinued to  perform  his  labors  and  visits  as 
usual,  till  about  the  middle  of  Feb.,  when 
he  was  seized  with  a  violent  cough,  and 
other  hectical  symptoms,  which  gradually 
increased  upon  him,  till  he  closed  the 
mortal  scene.  In  the  first  stages  of  the 
complaint,  the  best  medical  aid  was  call- 
ed, and  every  probable  means  administer- 
ed for  his  relief.  At  times,  when  he  ap- 
peared a  little  better,  his  friends  enter- 
25 


290 


THE   LIFE  OF 


tained  hopes  of  his  living,  and  exerted 
themselves  to  their  utmost  for  his  recove- 
ry :  but  their  hopes  were  generally  soo# 
blasted,  by  the  returns  of  his  complaints, 
and  increased  symptoms.  He,  however, 
exercised  almost  unexampled  patience 
through  all  his  distresses,  and  manifested 
great  resignation  to  the  Divine  will.  When 
he  could  sit  up  a  little,  he  paid  great  at- 
tention to  his  daily  account,  and  minuted 
the  distresses  he  had  gone  through  in  his 
body,  and  the  particular  exercises  of  his 
mind  under  them  ;  and  often  blessed  God 
for  the  enjoyment  of  his  sensible  presence, 
in  the  midst  of  those  distressing  scenes. 

2.  When  able  to  read,  he  took  great 
pains  to  search  the  scriptures,  both  of  the 
old  and  new  testament,  and  minuted  all 
the  principal  passages,  generally  adduced 
by  the  disputants  of  the  various  sects,  in 
support  of  their  favorite  doctrines ;  and 
sat  them  down  in  such  order,  as  to  satisfy 
himself  of  what  was  the  aggregate  mean- 
ing of  the  whole,  when  impartially  com- 
pared together.  This  he  did  several  tim  es 
over,  that  he  might  be  correct  in  his  the- 
ological calculations.    He  seems  to  have 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


been  led  to  this  painful  task,  by  a  consid- 
eration of  the  great  variety  of  prepossessed 
notions  of  religion  which  men  have  imbib- 
ed in  a  state  of  nature,  either  from  the 
mere  prejudice  of  education  and  tradi- 
tion<,  or  from  their  natural  proneness  to 
embrace  and  propagate  such  doctrines  as 
appear  to  exculpate  them  from  blame,  and 
justify  them  in  walking  in  the  way  of  their 
own  hearts,  and  which  promises  them  sal- 
vation, while  living  agreeably  to  their  own 
fallen  nature.  The  result  of  his  deliber- 
ations was  that  no  doctrine  would  do, 
either  to  live  by  or  die  by,  that  would 
give  allowance  to  sin,  and  that  the  only 
safe  doctrine  to  believe  and  preach,  is  that 
which  inculcates  repentance  towards  God, 
true  faith  in  Christ,  and  leads  to  holiness 
of  heart  and  life, 

Notwithstanding  the  weakness  of  his 
body,  his  mind  was  remarkably  exercised 
with  a  care  for  the  prosperity  of  the  Con- 
nexion. He  often  expressed  a  fear,  that 
when  they  grew  popular,  they  would  con- 
form to  the  world,  and  by  that  means  fall 
into  a  state  of  formality,  as  other  denom- 
inations had  done*  from  the  same  cause: 


S9B  THE   LI  FEJ  OF 

He  also  feared  that  by  imwatchfulnessw 
they  might  let  in  among  them,  and  hold 
fellowship  with  those  who  hold  and  preach 
doctrines  inconsistent  with  the  tenor  of 
scripture.  In  a  letter  to  the  quarterly 
meeting  at  Andover,  N.  H.,  dated  May 
14,  1808,  he  urged  the  necessity  of  being 
Christ's  disciples  indeed. 

3.  In  the  same  letter  he  also  urged  the 
necessity  of  adopting  measures  to  correct 
those  irregularities  and  prevailing  disor- 
ders, which  were  then  existing  in  some 
parts  of  the  Connexion.  He  also  men- 
tioned the  inconsistency  of  holding  forth 
the  impossibility  of  falling  from  grace, 
which  he  considered  a  doctrine  danger- 
ous to  souls.  He  also  mentioned  a  doc- 
trine, then  lately  propagated  in  the  coun- 
try, called  "The  end  of  the  wicked," 
which  inculcates  the  idea  that  at  the  day 
of  judgment  the  wicked  will  be  burnt  up^ 
Soul  and  body,  and  be  no  more.  This  he 
also  considered  an  unscriptural  and  dan- 
gerous doctrine,  and  gave  it  as  his  opin- 
ion, that  such  as  preached  it  ought  not 
to  be  holden  in  fellowship,  or  rather,  that 
they  ought  to  be  noted  as  not  belonging 


E&NJAMltf  RANDAL. 


to  the  Connexion.  In  the  close  of  his  let- 
ter, he  animadverted  warmly  on  the  con- 
duct of  those  preachers,  who  being  fond 
of  novelty,  lay  hold  of  any  new  doctrine 
which  is  presented,  and  without  examin- 
ing it  by  the  bible,  fall  in  with  it# 
and  recommend  it  to  others,  and  try  to 
make  every  body  believe  it.  And  when 
another  new  doctrine  is  presented,  the 
former  is  given  up  as  erroneous,  and  the 
latter  is  embraced  as  truth,  and  propa- 
gated with  the  same  zeal  as  the  former. 
In  their  own  opinion,  such  preachers  have* 
been  always  wrong  before,  and  right  now 
but  they,  being  still  unstable,  may  tell  us 
a  few  days  hence  that  they  are  wrong 
now.  As  an  antidote  for  this  disorder^ 
he  recommends,  1.  Submission  to  God. 
2.  A  constant  learning  of  Jesus.  3.  A 
steady  perseverance  in  the  commandments 
of  God.  He  gives  it  as  his  opinion,  that 
none  but  such  will  ever  rightly  und er- 
st and  the  mystery  of  godliness,  or  havo 
the  testimony  of  their  consciences  that 
they  please  God. 

4.  Through  all  his  sickness,  he  enjoyed 
great  presence  of  mind  ;  and  when  able 

*  25* 


294 


THE   LIFE  OF 


to  converse,  his  mind  appeared  to  be  a# 
fruitful  of  resources,  as  when  in  perfect 
health.  In  the  month  of  June  I  made 
him  a  visit,  with  several  other  ministers. 
I  found  him  extremely  weak  in  body,  but 
strong  in  faith  and  happy  in  his  mind.  I 
observed  to  him,  that  I  had  often  been  de^ 
lighted  and  edified  by  his  improvement  as 
a  preacher;  that  I  had  now  come  to  see 
him  upon  his  death -bed,  and  wished  to 
know  if  the  doctrine  he  had  propagated  in 
life,  would  support  him  in  death.  He  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative,  with  great  em- 
phasis, and  said,  "  I  am  more  and  more 
confirmed  in  it.'9  I  then  questioned  him 
upon  all  the  fundamental  points  of  his  doc- 
trine separately,  to  which  he  gave  satis- 
factory and  scriptural  answers.  I  asked 
him  if  he  did  not  think  that  he  had  been 
loo  zealous  in  propagating  those  points  ? 
He  answered  no;  and  added,  "  If  I  had 
|ny  life  to  live  over  again,  I  would  be 
more  zealous  than  I  ever  have  been." 
He  beim:  now  almost  exhausted,  I  waiv- 
ed the  subject  for  a  while,  and  attended 
to  personal  experience  and  prayer.  After 
he  revived  a  little,  I  asked  his  opinion  of 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL.  #fi# 

the  doctrine  of  annihilation,  or  what  is 
called  "The  end  of  the  wicked."  To 
which  he  answered,  "It  is  a  doctrine  of 
error,  and  I  have  found  three  hundred 
texts  in  the  bihle,  expressly  to  the  con* 
trary  of  it."  Before  we  parted,  he  re- 
lated to  us  the  following  dialogue,  which 
had  a  few  days  before  taken  place,  be- 
tween him  and  a  minister  of  Calvinistic 
sentiments,  who  made  him  a  visit. 

Min.  "  Brother  Randal,  dont  you  some- 
times long  to  die,  that  you  may  get  into 
heaven  V* 

Ran.  "  No  ;  for  I  am  in  heaven  now, 
and  have  been  through  all  m)  sickness :  I 
have  enjoyed  the  presence  of  God  through 
it  all,  and  that  is  heaven  to  me." 

Min.  "  But  dont  you  think  that  you 
will  enjoy  a  greater  measure  of  happiness, 
after  you  leave  the  body,  than  you  can 
enjoy  in  it  ?" 

Ran.  "  Yes  ;  but  I  am  full  now,  and 
I  shall  only  be  full  then ;  when  a  vessel 
is  fill,  if  is  fall :  and  if  a  vessel  is  f«ll,  if 
it  dont  hold  more  rhan  a  gill  cup,  ft  is  ae 
happy  in  its  measure}  as  if  it  was  as  big 
as  a  gallon-pot," 


2m 


fHS  Li  FE  OF 


JUin.  "  Dont  you  expect  that  when  you 
leave  this  body,  you  will  be  rewarded  for 
all  your  labors  here  below  1" 

Ran.  "  No,  blessed  be  God  !  the  Lord 
is  not  in  debt  to  me.  I  expect  to  go  to 
heaven  when  I  die,  but  I  dont  expect  to 
enjoy  heaven  as  a  reward  for  my  labors. 
I  have  had  my  reward  all  the  way  as  I 
came  along,  and  expect  the  joys  of  heaven 
will  be  gratis  !" 

He  always  believed  it  his  duty  to 
serve  Cod,  and  that  the  reward  was  in 
doing  the  commandments,  and  not  for 
doing  them.  He  believed  his  salvation 
was  entirely  of  grace.  Free  grace  was 
his  theme  living  and  dying.  In  the 
course  of  his  confinement,  he  had  a  great 
many  visits  of  brethren  and  friends  from 
different  parts,  who  were  delighted  with 
his  conversation,  and  contributed  to  hie 
necessities.  The  church,  at  his  request, 
frequently  appointed  their  conferences  and 
prayer  oieetinjs  at  his  house,  and  nothing 
delighted  him  so  much,  as  to  see  them  en* 
gaged  in  the  cause. 

At  his  request,  I  appointed  a  meeting 
for  preaching  at  his  house,  and  observing 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 


his  extreme  weakness,  I  thought  the  usu- 
al exercises  of  a  public  meeting  might 
overcome  hirn,  I  therefore  asked  him  if 
he  thought  he  could  bear  the  exercise  of 
.singing  ?  He  answered  "  Yes.  If  you 
sing  with  the  spirit  and  understanding 
also,  you  may  sing  as  much  as  you  please, 
Glory  to  God  !  I  can  bear  to  hear  any 
body  praise  Him.  I  expect  soon  to  join 
with  the  singing  millions  above,"  I  then 
proceeded  in  my  u&ual  manner,  and  no 
one  in  the  assembly  appeared  to  take  so 
much  interest  in  the  exercise,  as  he  did. 
He  followed  the  discourse  clear  through, 
and  when  I  ended,  he  was  able  to  recapit- 
ulate all  the  leading  ideas,  and  in  a  most 
solemn  and  impressive  manner  recom- 
mended the  whole  to  the  consideration  of 
the  audience.  His  outward  man  gradually 
decayed  and  perished,  while  his  inward 
man  was  renewed  day  by  day.  Previous 
to  his  dissolution,  he,  in  a  most  cool  and 
dispassionate  manner,  settled  all  his  tem- 
poral concerns — made  every  arrangement 
in  respect  to  his  funeral— ordered  how  his 
grave  clothes  should  be  made,  and  saw 
them  cut  and  made— ordered  the  form  of 


THE  LIFE  UP 


his  coflin,  all  in  the  plainest  and  most  <?e-- 
cent  manner  ;  and,  finally,  composed  a 
hymn  to  be  read  to  the  spectators,  when 
the  corpse  should  be  opened — appointed 
the  man  to  preach  his  funeral  sermon  ; 
and  even  planned  the  order  of  the  proces- 
sion, and  the  way  and  manner  they  should 
march  to  and  from  the  grave. 

5.  He  died  Oct.  22,  1808,  after  a  con 
finement  of  about  nine  months  with  the 
consumption.  Just  before  his  exit,  being 
asked  by  a  friend  how  he  did,  he  answer- 
ed, "  Ail  I  wait  for  is  my  Father's  com* 
mand,  and  my  soul  will  then  leave  this 
body."  And  in  a  few  minutes  he  breathed 
out  his  soul  into  the  arms  of  his  blessed 
Jesus,  with  whom  he  longed  to  be. 

His  wife  lost  a  kind  and  benevolent 
husband — his  children  an  affectionate  pa- 
rent— the  church  a  faithful  servant  and 
minister  of  the  gospel — the  town  an  ami- 
able member  of  society — the  state  of  New- 
Hampshire  one  of  its  most  useful  and  re- 
spected citizens  ;  and  this  poor  benighted 
world,  a  burning  and  shining  light.  He> 
lived  upon  earth  59  years,  7  months,  and 
26  days.    About  31  years,  and  7  months 


BENJAMIN  R A ?f D Al. .  233 

he  spent  in  public  testimony;  laboring 
day  and  night  for  the  salvation  of  fallen 
men.  He  always  appeared  ready  to 
preach  the  word.  He  was  instant  in  sea- 
son and  out  of  season,  to  reprove,  rebuke, 
exhort,  with  all  long-suffering  and  doc- 
trine. He  was  often  opposed  by  men  ; 
but  constantly  supported  by  God.  God 
testified  of  his  gifts,  by  blessing  his  \n]  »rs. 
Hundreds  of  souls  have  dated  their  expe- 
rience of  grace  under  his  ministry.  Al* 
though  a  layman,  he  was  one  of  the  best 
of  preachers.  Dyer  says,  "  He  is  the  b  est 
preacher,  who  does  the  most  good  and 
wins  the  most  souls."  He  was  a  man 
subject  to  like  passions  as  we  are ;  but 
in  ail  his  addresses  he  was  remarkably 
tender  and  affectionate.  In  doctrine,  he 
was  clear  and  decisive — in  argument, 
pointed  and  powerful. 

His  remains  were  decently  interred, 
October  26.  Agreeably  to  his  request,  a 
sermon  was  delivered  on  the  occasion,  by 
the  writer  of  this  work,  from  2  Tim,  iv.  7, 
8.  "I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have 
finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith  ; 
Henceforth,  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a 


3oo 


THE   ElFE  01* 


croivn  of  righteousness ,  which  the  Lord, 
the  righteous  Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that 
day  ;  and  not  to  me  only, .  but  unto  all 
them  also  that  love  his  appearing." 

Seventeen  ordained  ministers  were  pres- 
ent. The  six  eldest  were  appointed  bear- 
ers— one  walked  with,  and  supported  the 
widow— ten  -followed  as  mourners  next  to 
the  near  kindred — the  church  members 
followed  them  in  procession — his  physi- 
cians and  town  dwellers  each  followed  in 
their  proper  places,  together  with  a  nu- 
merous train  of  spectators,  who  followed 
in  a  solemn  and  orderly  manner.  The 
whole  exhibited  the  most  solemn  scene  I 
ever  witnessed  5  and  reminded  me  of  the 
funeral  mentioned  Acts  viii.  2.  "Devout 
men  carried  Stephen  to  his  burial,  and 
made  great  lamentation  over  himP 

"  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the 
Lord,  from  henceforth;  yea,  saith  the 
Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  la- 
bors, and  their  works  do  follow  them," 


BENJAMIN  RANDAL. 


Since  the  decease  of  Eld.  Randal,. 
marble  slabs  have  been  placed  over  his 
grave,  by  the  Connexion,  with  the  fol- 
lowing inscription  thereon: 
SACRED 

TO  TEE  MEMORY  OF 

ELDER  BENJAMIN  RANDAL, 

THE  FOUNDER  OF   THE    FREEWILL  BAP- 
TIST SOCIETY  IN  AMERICA. 

HE  LABORED  IN  THE  MINISTRY 
THIRTY  YEARS. 

He  died  October  22,  1808, 
Aged  59  years,  7  mo. 
and  21  days. 


26 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.  6 

•His  parentage,  birth,  education,  and  occupation.  2.  His 
experience  of  grace. 

CHAPTER  II.  22 


His  acquaintance  with  experienced  christians  in  Newcastle 
and  Portsmouth,  2.  His  journev  to  Marblehead  and  Salem, 
and  stay  there.  3.  His  return  to  Newcastle — his  marriage, 
4.  Induction  into  the  congregational  church,  and  christen- 
ing his  first  child. 

CHAPTER  III.  27 
Randal  awakes — views  the  church  in  disorder — see3  sinners 
in  danger — sleep  departs  From  him — talks  with  the  church 
members — agrees  to  hold  meetings,  and  obtains  consent  of 
the  minister.  2.  Hears  a  stranger  at  Portsmouth — invites 
him  to  Newcastle — The  minister  accepts  the  invitation,  but 
is  treated  disrespectfully. 

CHAPTER  IV.  88 

Randal  separates  from  the  church — others  follow  his  exam- 
ple— meetings  kept  up  in  time  of  danger.  2.  Randal  feels 
impressions  to  preach — moves  his  family  to  Kittery — removes 
ba^k — enlists  as  a  soldier,  bur  enjoys  the  Divine  presence. 
3.  Is  convinced  of  believers'  baptism,  yet  condescends  t© 
have  his  child  christened  to  please  his  wife,  4.  He  is  called 
to  preach — is  baptized. 

CHAPTER  V.  48 
Randal  returns  from  baptism  rejoicing,  but  is  again  under 
great  trials  about  preaching.  2.  Undertakes  to  read  a 
chapter,  and  preaches  from  the  first  verse.  3.  Makes  a  cov- 
enant with  the  Lord,  and  preaches  his  first  sermon.  4.  Is 
threatened,  but  continues  preaching  with  success. 

CHAPTER  VL  58 
Randal  preaches — many  are  cut  to  the  heart — the  poor 
widow  is  converted.  2.  Persecution  begins — Randal  highly 
threatened — narrowly  escapes  death — a  plot  laid  to  tar  and 
feather  him,  but  he  escapes.  3.  An  armed  mob  of  forty 
men  raised,  who  threaten  to  kill  him,  but  let  him  pass  un- 
•nolested. 


304 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII.  70 

1.  Randal  preaches  in  the  country — is  invited  to  New-Durham 
— passes  through  Barrington — sees  great  effect  of  his  labors 
—is  persecuted,  or  rather  reproached  and  railed  at.  2. 
Great  moving  at  New-Durham — A  day  of  fasting  agreed  on, 
to  inquire  of  the  Lord  whether  it  would  be  right  for  him  to 
settle  in  the  town.  3.  His  removal.  4.  The  Baptists  in 
New-England  all  in  union.  5.  Randal  called  upon  to  tell 
why  he  did  not  preach  the  doctrine  of  election. 

CHAPTER  VIII,  78 

1.  A  meeting  appointed  at  Gilmanton — Randal  called  upon  to 
answer  for  himself,  and  his  antagonist  publicly  declares  that 
he  has  no  fellowship  with  him,  in  his  principles — Randal's 
reply.  2.  He  is  again  called  upon  to  answer  for  his  errors, 
and  is  dropped  without  rejection  or  dismission — Much  public 
excitement.  3.  Randal  becomes  a  member  of  a  separate 
church,  and  is  ordained.  4.  Church  embodied  at  New- 
Durham. 

CHAPTER  IX.  86 
1.  Randal  is  brought  to  a  stand — Experiences  a  remarkable 
manifestation  of  light.  2.  Anecdote — His  first  visit  to  Lit- 
tle Falls — success  in  preaching.  3.  Opposition  at  the  time 
of  baptism.  4.  The  church  embodied  at  Tamworth  and  an- 
other in  Barrington,  N.  H. 

CHAPTER  X.  97 
I.  Randal  makes  his  first  visit  to  Kennebeck — Preaches  at 
Parker's  Island  and  Woolwich.    2.  Meets  with  opposition — 
Preaches  on  a  grave.    3.  Embodies  a  church  at  Woolwich, 
and  returns. 

CHAPTER  XI.  105 

L  Randal  visits  Gorham,  &c. — The  Connexion  much  increas- 
ed— Monthly  meetings  established — The  bible  given  to  each 
as  their  only  book  of  discipline.  2.  Modest  apparel  and 
temperance  recommended.  3.  The  church  in  Gorham  added 
— Randal's  wife's  father  dies.  4.  Loudon  and  Canterbury 
churches  join  the  Shakers — Randal  is  called  to  gather  the 
scattering  members.  5.  He  visits  the  church  in  Woolwich, 
&c. 

CHAPTER  XII.  112 
1.  The  scattered  brethren  in  Loudon  and  Canterbury  send  for 
hulp — Eld.  Randal  complains  of  false  brethren — is  confined 
by  sickness,  but  happy  in  mind.  2.  Is  in  indigent  circum- 
stances— works  hard  to  redeem  time  to  preach.  3.  Randal 
sent  to  Barrington.    4,  Goes  on  an  eastern  tour — a/  count 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  XIII,  119 
1  Eld.  Randal  attends  the  first  Q.  M. — their  agreement — re- 
turns, and  is  taken  sick — recovers — attends  the  Q.  M.  in 
March,  June  and  Septembei.  2.  Goes  to  Crownpoint — 
ordains  Joseph  Boody — attends  Q.  M.  at  Edgcomb — ordains 
John  Whitney — attends  Q.  M.  at  Gorham.  3.  Some  trials 
in  New-Dir:  ham  church — attends  Q.  M.  at  New-Gloucester 
and  Kennebeck.  4.  Revival  at  New-Durham — Nathan 
Merrill  and  James  M 'Corson  ordained. 

CHAPTER  XIV.  126 
1.  Randal  visits  the  churches — Attends  the  Q.  M's.,  &c.  2. 
Randal  is  opposed — Q.  M.  i emoted  from  N.  Gloucester  to 
Parsonsfield — Randal's  labors  and  constitution.  3.  Great 
declension  m  New-Durham — Randal  is  sick — Buries  his  fa- 
ther— Preaches  his  funeral  sermon. 

CHAPTER  XV.  131 
1.  Eld.  Randal  attends  4he  Q.  M's.  at  Edgcomb  and  Gorham. 
2.  The  declension  ;n  New-Durham  grows  worse.    3.  The 
living  members  covenant  anew.    4.  The  covenant.    5.  The 
inhabitants  are  alarmed,  and  a  revival  succeeds. 

CHAPTER  XVI.  137 
1.  New  Year's  Sermon-  -Randal  visits  the  churches  in  Pitts- 
field  and  Barrington — Preaches,  &c.  at  Middlcton.  2.  Mal  es 
a  new  arrangement  of  mee^ ;ngs— form  of.  3.  First  Y.  M. 
4.  Randal  &  Buzzeil  visit  Vermont.  5.  Randal  attends  Q. 
M.  af  Barnstead,  and  Y.  M.  at  Edgcomb.  6.  John  Buzzell 
and  Isaac  Townsend  ordained. 

CHAPTER  XVII.  145 
1.  Randal  attends  Y.  M.  at  Gorham.  2.  At^nds  Q.  M.  &Y. 
M.— Goes  to  Strafford,  Vt. — the  church  ided— -Buzzell 
visits  them.  3.  Randal  visits  Berwick..  &e.  4.  Daniel  Lord 
ordained.  5.  Randal  attends  Q.  M.  &  Y  M.... church  em- 
bodied at  Farmington,  Me. 

CHAPTER  XVIII.  152 

1.  Randal  visits  Vermont. ...returns....*  sits  Canterbury  &e.... 
attends  a  Q.  M.  &  Y.  M.  2.  Visit  Berwick,  &c.  *3.  Goes 
on  an  eastern  tour.  4.  Visits  a  cm;;  nal  in  Pownalborougk 
jail. ...stays  at  night  at  a  tavern.. ..a  ball  broken  up,  &c. 

CHAPTER  XIX.  161 

1.  Randal  visits  Uppertown.  2.  A  mon-1  !y  rnee;ing  esfab= 
lishec. ...Randal  visits  Farmington. . . .ret f ; r s  hon  e  mds 
Q.  M.  3.  Attends  Y.  M.  at  Gorham... .Goei  ,o  Raymond-.. 
Z.  Leach  ordained.. ..Randal  returps  home.  Stc. 


 .  ltf  lllc  \^umit:.Yicm. 

CHAPTER  XXXVIN.  282 

"  oE1v-#anJ!J  iS  VGuy  l0W  in  health'  but  continues  to  preach 
2.  Visits  Edgcomb....presides  in  V.  M.  3.  Preaches  at  N 
Durham-visits  Deerfield-returns-is  seized  w The ■  choHc 
-vjsits  Portsmouth,  &c.  4.  Attends  Y.  M.  at  Gorham- 
goes  to  Gilmanton-has  another  fit  of  the  cboHc-ctse*  the 

CHAPTER  XXXIX.  2S9 

"  £!i  ^ndd  iS  SGT d  With  a  cough— his  friends  entertain  a 
hope— he  is  much  resigned-keeps  a  daily  account.  2 
neSv  of  ffc  ^CMPtures-"is  m«<*  concerned  for  the  p^ 
penty  of  the  Connexion— urges  the  necessity  of  beina  true 
dxsejp  es.  3.  Warns  against  irregularities,  false  doSrine 
and  burS  Preseace  of  ™i»d  in  his  sickness.    5.  Death 


University  of  California  Library 
Los  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Phone  R 
31 0/8* 


^•9188 


UCLAYftL*  L 

DUE.  NOV  4  0  ZOO! 


UCLA  ACCESS 
Interlibrary  Loan 
11 630  University 
Box  95 1575 

Los  Angeles.  CA 


SI-RVICES 


Research  Library 

130095-1575 


NOV  C  £  2005 


L  006  339  339  1 


:3 


